Chanukah begins on the 25th day of the 9th month (aka “Kislev”)
In 2009
on the Traditional Hillel II calendar
the first Chanukah candle is lit
Friday evening, December 11th
(If you light candles for Sabbath, halakha is to light Chanukah candles before the Sabbath candles)

On the calendar based on the Abiv Barley and visible sighting of the New Moon in Israel, the 25th day of the 9th month is one day later.
When the holiday is a traditional holiday and not a moed (appointed time) or miqra kodesh (commanded assembly), our congregation celebrates on the traditional calendar dates except for the years when the two calendars are a month apart. In those years we follow the Abiv calendar dates for the traditional holidays as well so that Purim does not conflict with Pesach (Passover).