In This Article:
- Yizkor Is Observed Four Times Each Year
- Light the Candle Before the Holiday Begins
- The Yearly Pattern Feels Clearer Once You See It
- Choosing the Right Yizkor Candle for the Occasion
- Questions About Yizkor Candle Timing
- Keep Yizkor Simple From One Holiday to the Next
Most people first connect Yizkor with Yom Kippur. That is usually the point when the memorial service feels most visible, and for many families, it is the time of year when remembrance feels closest to the surface. Then a practical question comes up again, often months later: when do you light a Yizkor memorial candle during the rest of the year?
The answer is simpler than it first appears. Yizkor is recited four times a year, and the candle is customarily lit before the holiday begins, not halfway through the day when the service takes place. Getting that part clear makes the rest much easier. It also helps you choose the right memorial candles to keep at home, so you are not scrambling before a holiday starts.
Yizkor Is Observed Four Times Each Year
Yizkor is recited on Yom Kippur, Shemini Atzeret, the last day of Passover, and Shavuot. In the diaspora, that usually means the eighth day of Passover and the second day of Shavuot. In Israel, the holiday calendar differs, so Yizkor is recited on the seventh day of Passover, the single day of Shavuot, Yom Kippur, and Simchat Torah, where Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah are combined.
People often remember Yizkor as a Yom Kippur observance and forget that it returns at other points in the year. Once you know the four occasions, it becomes much easier to prepare ahead and keep the right memorial candles on hand.
Light the Candle Before the Holiday Begins
The main rule is straightforward: light the memorial candle before sundown, before the holiday begins. Memorial candles for Yizkor are lit just before sundown on the days Yizkor is observed, and they typically burn for about 25 hours.
That timing applies across the year. For Yom Kippur, the candle is lit before the fast and holiday begin. For Shemini Atzeret, it is lit before the festival starts. For Passover and Shavuot, the same logic applies: the candle is prepared and lit before the day on which Yizkor will be recited. If the observance falls on a Sabbath or festival day, kindling takes place prior to the holiday or Sabbath candle-lighting.
This is one reason Yizkor candles work best when they are already in the house before the holiday week arrives. Last-minute buying is where confusion starts. A simple routine works better: check the calendar, note the next Yizkor date, and make sure you have a candle that matches the observance period.
The Yearly Pattern Feels Clearer Once You See It
Yizkor does not appear randomly on the calendar. It returns at major points in the Jewish year, which gives remembrance a place within communal life rather than leaving it as something private and unstructured. Yom Kippur brings the most familiar Yizkor service for many people, while Passover, Shavuot, and Shemini Atzeret return that same act of remembrance in a different seasonal setting.
That pattern matters in practical terms, too. Once families realize Yizkor comes more than once a year, they tend to prepare differently. They stop thinking in one-off terms and start keeping memorial candles ready as part of the household routine. That removes stress and makes the observance feel more settled when the holiday arrives.
Choosing the Right Yizkor Candle for the Occasion
For Yizkor itself, the most direct fit is a 24- or 25-hour memorial candle, since that duration aligns with the holiday observance. Kisco Candles carries Lerner 26-hour memorial candles in tin holders, sold in multi-pack formats, which suit families who want a straightforward option for Yizkor dates throughout the year.
Longer-burning memorial candles still have a place. At Kisco Candles, we have options that include 3-day, 7-day, and 9-day memorial candles, along with a dedicated Yizkor candle collection and broader memorial offerings. Those longer options make sense for households that also observe yahrzeit, Shiva, or communal remembrance, or simply prefer to keep several formats on hand instead of buying one type at a time.
A practical rule helps here. Match the candle to the use. If you are preparing for a single Yizkor observance, a 24-hour memorial candle format is the cleanest choice. If your home keeps memorial candles year-round, a mix of short- and long-duration candles can be more useful.
Questions About Yizkor Candle Timing
These are the questions that come up most often because the timing can feel easy to mix up.
Do I Light the Yizkor Candle on the Day of Yizkor or Before the Holiday Starts?
The usual practice is to light the Yizkor memorial candle before sundown, before the holiday begins, so the candle is already burning by the time Yizkor is recited.
A simple rule makes this easier to remember: if Yizkor will be said on that holiday, light the memorial candle before the holiday begins. That approach keeps the timing clear and removes last-minute uncertainty.
Is Yizkor Said on Sukkot or on Shemini Atzeret?
Yizkor is said on Shemini Atzeret, not during the regular days of Sukkot.
This point causes confusion because the fall holiday calendar moves quickly, and many people remember the season as one continuous stretch. Sukkot leads directly into Shemini Atzeret, so the names can blur together if you are not checking the calendar closely.
In the diaspora, Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah are observed on separate days. In Israel, they are combined into one day. That is why holiday calendars can look slightly different from one place to another.
Can I Light a Yizkor Memorial Candle at Home if I Am Not Going to Synagogue?
Yes. A Yizkor candle can still be lit at home even if you are not attending synagogue.
That matters for people who are traveling, staying home, unable to attend services, or keeping the observance in a quieter and more private way. The home candle remains part of remembrance even when synagogue attendance is not possible. For many families, that private act carries its own weight and familiarity.
Should I Use the Same Type of Yizkor Candle Each Time?
Yes, many families use the same type of memorial candle for each Yizkor observance, and that usually makes the routine easier.
The most common fit is a candle that burns for about 24 hours, since that lines up well with the observance period. Using the same format each time removes guesswork. You know how long it burns, where to place it, and what to buy before the next holiday arrives.
What if a Holiday Starts Right After Shabbat or Another Festival?
This is another point that can cause confusion, because the candle-lighting timing depends on the holiday calendar and needs to be handled before the sacred time begins.
If a Yizkor observance falls within a festival period, check the calendar in advance and prepare the memorial candle before the holiday begins. This habit prevents most timing mistakes.
The easiest way to manage this is to treat the Yizkor candle as part of your normal holiday preparation. If the candle is already in the house and the timing is already checked, the observance feels much more settled when the day arrives.
Keep Yizkor Simple From One Holiday to the Next
The easiest way to handle Yizkor candle-lighting during the year is to treat it as part of your regular holiday preparation. Keep a few memorial candles in the house, store them somewhere easy to reach, and check the next Yizkor date before the holiday season begins. That approach removes guesswork and gives the observance a steadier place in the home.