Ben Carter
Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is an eight-day Jewish festival that commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple of Jerusalem. The centerpiece of the celebration is the Hanukkah menorah, a candelabrum that holds eight candles or oil lamps, plus an additional helper candle known as the shamash. The shamash is used to light the other candles and is placed on a higher or lower plane than the other lights. Hanukkah candles are ideally lit at nightfall and can be purchased from major retailers or Judaica shops, although any candle can be used in a pinch. They can be any color, but some people prefer blue and white, which are colors associated with Judaism.
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What You'll Learn
Hanukkah menorah
A Hanukkah menorah, also known as a hanukkiah, is a nine-branched candelabrum lit during the eight-day Jewish holiday of Hanukkah. Eight of the nine branches hold candles or oil lamps, with one candle being lit on the first night, two on the second, and so on until all eight are lit on the final night. The ninth branch holds a candle called the shamash, or "helper", which is used to light the other eight. The shamash is on a higher or lower plane than the other eight candles, but there is no consensus on whether the hanukkiah must be arranged in a straight line or can be curved.
The lighting of the Hanukkah menorah is the holiday's most central ritual, and public lighting ceremonies are often attended by elected officials. In the United States, the lighting of the National Menorah in Lafayette Park has been attended by the President since 1979, and a hanukkiah has been lit at the White House since 1993. The House of Commons in the United Kingdom also holds a yearly hanukkiah lighting ceremony.
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Candle lighting ceremony
Hanukkah candles don't have a special name, but they are referred to as "Hanukkah candles" or "nerot" in Hebrew. They can be any colour, but blue and white candles are often used due to their association with Judaism and the State of Israel. They can be purchased from major retailers, Judaica shops, or online, and any type of candle can be used as long as it burns for 30 minutes and is equal in size.
The Hanukkah candle lighting ceremony involves using a special candelabrum called a Hanukkah menorah, or hanukkiah, which has nine branches for candles or oil lamps. The ninth branch holds the shamash, or "helper" candle, which is used to light the other eight. The shamash is usually placed in the centre or on one side, and it is lit first. On the first night of Hanukkah, the shamash is used to light one other candle. On the second night, it lights two, and so on, until all eight candles are lit on the final night. The candles are placed in the menorah from right to left but are lit from left to right.
The blessings are said before the candles are lit, with three blessings recited on the first night and two on each subsequent night. It is customary to recite the paragraph Ha-neirot Hallalu after lighting the candles, followed by the singing of Ma·oz Tzur. The menorah is then placed in a window, doorway, or any visible place to publicize the miracle of Hanukkah.
The candle lighting ceremony is traditionally done at nightfall, defined in Jewish tradition as the moment when three stars appear. However, on Friday evening, the menorah should be lit before sunset to avoid lighting a fire during Shabbat, which is forbidden according to Jewish law. On Saturday evening, the candles are lit after sunset and the end of Shabbat, but there is no consensus on whether the menorah should be lit before or after the havdalah rituals.
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Candle colours
Hanukkah candles can be any colour, but blue and white candles are commonly used because those colours are associated with Judaism and the State of Israel. Some people prefer to buy coloured Hanukkah candles for aesthetic appeal, in keeping with the principle of hiddur mitzvah, which is about making the ritual obligation beautiful.
In terms of the number of candles, a Hanukkah menorah or hanukkiah is a nine-branched candelabrum that is lit during the eight-day Jewish holiday of Hanukkah. Eight of the nine branches hold candles or oil lamps, with the ninth branch, called the shamash, being used to light the other candles. On each night, one more candle is lit than the previous night, until on the final night all eight branches are ignited, for a total of 44 candles (36 excluding the shamash). The shamash is placed higher or lower than the other candles so it is not confused with them.
The Hanukkah menorah is distinct from the seven-branched menorah used in the ancient Temple in Jerusalem. The Hanukkah menorah is lit first with larger candles than usual, followed by the Shabbat candles.
Any candles can be used in a pinch, provided they burn for 30 minutes and are equal in size.
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Candle lighting rules
Hanukkah candles can be any colour, but some people prefer to buy blue and white candles as those are colours associated with Judaism and the State of Israel. Others may prefer coloured candles for aesthetic appeal. In a pinch, any candle can be used, provided they burn for 30 minutes and are equal in size.
The Hanukkah menorah, or hanukkiah, is a nine-branched candelabrum lit during the eight-day Jewish holiday of Hanukkah. Eight of the nine branches hold candles or oil lamps that symbolize the eight nights of the holiday. The ninth branch is for the shamash, or helper candle, which is used to light the others. On the first night of Hanukkah, only two candles are placed in the menorah: the shamash and another candle designating the first night. On each subsequent night, one more candle is lit than the previous night, until on the final night, all eight branches are lit, for a total of 44 candles (36 excluding the shamash).
The candles are placed in the menorah from right to left (like Hebrew writing) but are lit from left to right. The shamash is placed at a different elevation than the other candles. The blessings are said before the candles are lit. In Ashkenazi communities, the shamash is lit first and used to light the other candles, starting with the leftmost one. In Sephardi communities, an extra candle that is not part of the menorah is used to light the other candles, and then the shamash is lit last and the extra candle is blown out.
Ideally, the Hanukkah menorah is lit at nightfall, defined in Jewish tradition as the moment when three stars appear. However, there is one exception: since Hanukkah lasts for eight nights, it will inevitably overlap with Shabbat at least once. In that case, the Hanukkah lights are lit before the Shabbat candles.
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Hanukkah traditions
Hanukkah, also known as Chanukah, is a Jewish festival that lasts eight days and commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple of Jerusalem. The festival is marked by several traditions, many of which involve candles and lights.
One of the most well-known Hanukkah traditions is the lighting of the Hanukkah menorah, also known as a hanukkiah or chanukkiah. This is a nine-branched candelabrum, with eight branches holding candles or oil lamps that symbolise the eight nights of the holiday. Each night, one more light is lit than the previous night, so that on the final night, all eight branches are lit. The ninth branch holds the shamash, or "helper" candle, which is lit first and used to light the other candles. The shamash is placed on a higher or lower plane than the other candles so that it is not confused with them. The hanukkiah is typically lit at nightfall, which in Jewish tradition is defined as the moment when three stars appear.
In addition to the hanukkiah, there are other candle-related traditions associated with Hanukkah. Fried foods, such as latkes (potato pancakes) and doughnuts, are often eaten during the holiday to commemorate the importance of oil in the celebration of Hanukkah. This tradition recalls the miracle of the oil, which is said to have occurred over two thousand years ago. Some families also have a custom of eating dairy products during Hanukkah to remember the story of Judith and Holofernes.
The colours blue and white are often associated with Hanukkah, as they are the colours of Judaism and the State of Israel. Many people decorate their homes in these colours and use blue and white candles for their hanukkiah. Hanukkah candles can be purchased from major retailers or Judaica shops, or easily bought online. However, any candle can be used in a pinch, as long as it burns for 30 minutes and is equal in size to the other candles.
Hanukkah is also celebrated with religious rituals such as the daily reading of Scripture and recitation of Psalms, as well as non-religious customs like giving children gifts of money (Hanukkah gelt) and playing a game with a four-sided top called a dreidel.
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Frequently asked questions
Hanukkah candles are a special type of candle used during the Jewish festival of Hanukkah. They are placed on a Hanukkah menorah, also known as a hanukkiah, and lit each night of the eight-day celebration.
Hanukkah candles are lit to commemorate the rededication of the Second Temple of Jerusalem. They symbolise the eight nights of the Festival of Lights, with one additional candle, known as the shammash, to adhere to the prohibition against using the Hanukkah lights for anything other than publicising and meditating on the Hanukkah miracle.
Hanukkah candles can be any colour, but blue and white candles are often used as these colours are associated with Judaism and the State of Israel.
Hanukkah candles can be purchased from major retailers, Judaica shops, grocery stores, or online.
Hanukkah candles are ideally lit at nightfall, defined in Jewish tradition as the moment when three stars appear.
