This year (2011), we begin lighting candles on Tuesday night, December 20th and we light the last candle on the night of December 27th.

Remember to put the first candle on the rightmost holder of your menorah (rightly called a chanukiah) and add candles from right to left each night.  Then light the Shamash and begin lighting the newest candle first while saying or singing the blessings below.  On the Shabbat night of Chanukah, light the Chanukah candles first and then the Shabbat candles.
 

First Blessing

Baruch atah adonai eloheinu melech ha-olam, asher kidshanu b'mitzvotav v'tzivanu l'hadlik ner shel chanukah.

Blessed our God, ruler of the universe, by whose mitzvot we are sanctified and who commands us to kindle the lights of Chanukah
 

Click here to listen to this blessing: Blessing 1

Second Blessing

Baruch atah adonai eloheinu melech ha-olam, sheh-asa nissim la-vo-tei-nu bayamim ha-haim bazman hazeh.

Blessed our God, ruler of the universe, who performed wonderous deeds for our ancestors in days of old, at this season.

Click here to listen to this blessing: Blessing 2

Third Blessing (only on the first night)

Baruch atah adonai eloheinu melech ha-olam, she-he-che-yanu v'ki-ye-manu v'he-gi-yanu la'zman ha-zeh.

Blessed our God, ruler of the universe, for giving us life, sustaining us, and for enabling us to reach this season.

Click here to listen to this blessing: Blessing 3