Chloe Adams
Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is an eight-day Jewish celebration commemorating the rededication of the Second Temple of Jerusalem during the second century B.C. The holiday is marked by the lighting of candles on a menorah, with the number of candles increasing by one each night. So, how many candles do you need to fully observe the tradition?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of candles on a menorah | 9 (8 for each night, plus 1 helper candle) |
| Number of candles needed for all eight nights | 44 |
| Placement of candles | From right to left |
| Lighting order | Left to right |
| Timing | After sundown, except on Fridays when it is done before sunset |
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What You'll Learn
A Chanukah menorah has nine candles
A Chanukah menorah, also known as a chanukiah, has nine candles in total. Eight of these are lit over eight nights, with an additional helper candle, known as the shamash, used to light the others. The shamash is placed in a designated spot, usually in the centre, and is at a different elevation to the other eight candles.
The lighting of the menorah is a ritual that commemorates an ancient miracle. When Judah Maccabee and his warriors reclaimed the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, they found only enough oil to burn for one night. However, the oil miraculously burned for eight nights, allowing the Maccabees time to find more and rededicate the temple.
Each night of Chanukah, an additional candle is lit. On the first night, the shamash and one other candle are lit. On the second night, the shamash and two other candles are burning, and so on. By the eighth and final night, all nine candles are lit.
The candles are placed in the menorah from right to left, but are lit from left to right. This is the same direction Hebrew is written in. Before the candles are lit, blessings are recited. In Ashkenazi communities, the shamash is lit first, and used to light the other candles from left to right. In Sephardi communities, an extra candle is used to light the others, and the shamash is lit last.
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Eight candles for each night
Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday commemorating the miracle of a single day's supply of oil that remained lit for eight days. To celebrate, candles are lit for eight nights on a candle holder called a menorah. A Hanukkah menorah has nine places for candles: one for the shamash, or helper candle, and eight candles that represent the eight nights.
The shamash candle is lit first and used to light the other eight. On the first night, the shamash and one other candle are lit. On the second night, the shamash and two other candles are lit. This pattern continues until the eighth and final night of Hanukkah, when all nine candles are burning brightly: the shamash and all eight Hanukkah lights.
The number of candles lit each night increases by one, so on the third night, three candles are lit, and so on. This means that a total of 44 candles are needed for a Hanukkah celebration (including the shamash). A traditional box of Hanukkah candles usually contains 44 or 45 candles, in case one breaks.
The shamash is placed in the centre of the menorah and is lit first. The other eight candles are placed in a row and lit from left to right. The shamash is also lit from left to right, but it is placed separately from the other candles.
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One helper candle, the shamash
Hanukkah is an eight-day Jewish holiday, and a Chanukah menorah (or chanukiah) is a nine-branched candelabrum lit during the celebration. Eight of the nine branches hold candles or oil lamps, and the ninth branch holds a helper candle, known as the shamash. The shamash is used to light the other eight candles.
The shamash is set apart from the other eight candles, often on a higher or lower plane. This is to distinguish it from the other candles, but not to indicate that it is more important. In fact, the eight candles that represent each night of the holiday are the core of the mitzvah. The shamash is not a mitzvah candle, but it is important because it enables the other candles to be lit in accordance with the ritual. The shamash is also left burning after the other candles are lit, in case one of the candles blows out and needs to be re-lit.
The shamash is usually placed above the other candles, symbolising that a teacher or leader serves others by using their skills to help others develop their skills. The shamash is often made from beeswax, and it is offset to one side or raised above the other candles.
The lighting of the candles is the main ritual of Hanukkah. On the first night, one candle is lit, on the second night, two candles, and so on. The Chanukah menorah is also known as a hanukkiah, and it is among the most widely produced articles of Jewish ceremonial art.
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Blessings are recited before lighting
The lighting of the candles is the main ritual of Hanukkah, and blessings are an important part of this. The number of candles lit increases by one each night, so on the first night, one candle is lit, on the second night, two candles are lit, and so on until the eighth and final night when all eight candles are burning.
The shamash, or helper candle, is lit first and used to light the other candles. This is done while reciting the first blessing:
> Baruch atah, Adonai Eloheinu, Melech haolam, asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav v’tsivanu l’hadlik ner shel Hanukkah.
This translates to:
> Blessed are You, Adonai, our God, Sovereign of the universe, who hallows us with mitzvot.
Or, more simply:
> Praised are You, Our God, Ruler of the universe, Who made us holy through Your commandments and commanded us to kindle the Hanukah lights.
On the first night, three blessings are recited before the lighting of the candles. The second blessing is:
> Barukh attah adonai, eloheinu, melekh ha-olam, she-asah nissim la-avoteinu ba-yamim ha-heim u-va-z’man ha-zeh.
Which translates to:
> Praised are You, Adonai, our God Sovereign of the universe, who wrought miracles for our ancestors at this time in ancient days.
The third blessing, the She-heḥeyyanu, is only recited on the first night of Hanukkah:
> Baruch atah adonai, eloheinu, melekh ha-olam, she-hecheyanu, ve-ki-yemanu, ve-higi-anu, la-zman ha-ze.
This means:
> Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of all, who has kept us alive, sustained us, and brought us to this season.
On the remaining seven nights, only the first and second blessings are recited before the candle lighting. After the candles are lit, it is customary to recite the paragraph Ha-neirot Hallalu, which explains the purpose of lighting the menorah. This is followed by the singing of Ma·oz Tzur (Rock of Ages).
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Candles are placed right to left, lit left to right
Hanukkah, or the "Festival of Lights", is an eight-day Jewish celebration that commemorates the victory of the Maccabees over the armies of Syria in 165 B.C.E. and the subsequent liberation and "rededication" of the Temple in Jerusalem. The main ritual of Hanukkah involves lighting candles on a menorah, also known as a chanukiah.
The chanukiah holds nine candles: eight candles in a row, representing each night of Hanukkah, and one helper candle, known as the shamash, which is set apart from the others. The shamash is used to light the other candles. On the first night of Hanukkah, the shamash and one other candle are lit. On the second night, the shamash and two other candles are lit, and so on, until all nine candles are burning on the eighth and final night.
The candles are placed in the chanukiah from right to left, following the direction in which Hebrew is written. However, they are lit from left to right, so that the newest candle is always lit first. This custom symbolises the increase of sanctity rather than its decrease. To complete the ritual on all eight nights with one menorah, 44 candles are needed in total. Most boxes of Hanukkah candles contain 45.
Before lighting the candles, it is traditional to recite blessings. On the first night, three blessings are recited, followed by two blessings on each subsequent night. The blessings are said before the candles are lit, and the shamash candle is lit first and used to light the other candles, starting with the left-most one.
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Frequently asked questions
On the first night of Hanukkah, two candles are lit: the shamash, or ""helper" candle, and another candle to mark the first night.
To complete the ritual on all eight nights with one menorah, you will need a total of 44 candles per menorah. Most boxes of Hanukkah candles contain 45.
The shamash candle is used to light the other candles. It is placed in a designated spot, usually in the centre, separate from the eight candles that mark the nights of Hanukkah.
