Maddie James
The Festival of Lights, Chanukah, is celebrated by lighting candles on a menorah for eight nights. The menorah holds nine candles: eight candles for each night of the festival and a ninth shamash candle, which is used to light the other eight. The shamash is placed in the centre of the menorah, with the other candles arranged in a row. On the first night, only the shamash and one other candle are lit. Each subsequent night, an additional candle is lit, until the final night when all nine candles are burning. To complete the ritual, 44 candles are needed in total, though some sources suggest that the bare minimum required is eight.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Minimum number of candles | 8 |
| Number of candles on a menorah | 9 (8 candles for each night and 1 helper candle) |
| Total number of candles required for all 8 nights | 44 |
| Placement of the first night's candle | Rightmost spot |
| Placement of the second night's candle | Same spot as the first night's candle |
| Placement of the second night's second candle | To the left of the first candle |
| Time to light the candles | After nightfall or sundown |
| Direction of candle placement | From right to left |
| Position of the helper candle | Center |
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What You'll Learn
The minimum number of candles needed is eight
The Festival of Lights, Hanukkah, is celebrated with a menorah, which is a candelabra. The menorah holds a total of nine candles: eight candles for each night of Hanukkah and one helper candle, known as the shamash. The shamash is used to light the other eight candles.
The shamash is placed in the centre of the menorah, with the other eight candles in a row beside it. On the first night of Hanukkah, only the shamash and one other candle are lit. On each subsequent night, an additional candle is lit, so that by the eighth and final night, all nine candles are burning.
The minimum number of candles needed for Hanukkah is eight, one for each night, plus the shamash. However, this would require reusing candles on multiple nights, as the shamash is lit every night, and each successive night requires one more candle than the previous one. Therefore, to complete the ritual on all eight nights with one menorah, a total of 44 candles are needed.
Alternatively, a new menorah can be used each night, in which case only nine candles are needed per menorah. This is because the shamash can be reused each night, as it is not fully burned down.
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The shamash, or helper candle
The shamash is typically distinguished from the other candles in some way, whether by its placement or the colour of the candle. For example, it may be offset to one side or raised above the other candles. However, this does not indicate that the shamash is more important than the other candles. In fact, it is the eight candles representing the nights of Hanukkah that form the core of the mitzvah.
The word "shamash" comes from the Hebrew word for "helper" or "servant". Interestingly, the same word was used to refer to the ancient Babylonian sun-god. While the shamash candle is an integral part of the Hanukkah tradition, it is not included in the count of the eight candles that are lit during the holiday. Instead, it is considered candle zero, with the eight other candles making up the full count.
The shamash plays a crucial role in the lighting of the menorah, ensuring that the other candles are lit and the ritual of Hanukkah is performed. By lighting the shamash and the other candles, individuals can connect with the traditions and symbolism of the holiday, commemorating the ancient Temple in Jerusalem and the miracle of the oil that is central to the Hanukkah story.
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Placement of the first night's candle
The placement of the first night's candle is an important ritual during Chanukah, also known as Hanukkah. This Jewish festival, which lasts eight days, involves lighting candles on a menorah each night to commemorate the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem.
On the first night of Chanukah, it is customary to place two candles on the menorah. One of these is the shamash, or "helper" candle, which is placed in its designated spot, usually in the centre. The other candle, representing the first night of the festival, is placed in the right-most spot. The shamash candle is used to light the other candle, and it is customary to say blessings before lighting the candles. In Ashkenazi communities, the shamash is lit first, while in Sephardi communities, an extra candle is used to light the first-night candle, and the shamash is lit last.
The menorah should be lit at the earliest opportunity on the first night, ideally before sunset, and the candles should be big enough to burn for at least half an hour after nightfall. If the menorah is lit after nightfall, the candles should still burn for at least half an hour. It is forbidden to light the menorah on Shabbat, which extends from sunset on Friday to nightfall on Saturday, so there are adjustments to the candle-lighting ritual on Friday and Saturday nights. On Friday, the menorah should be lit before sunset, and on Saturday, it is lit after sunset, but there are differing opinions on whether it should be lit before or after the havdalah rituals.
The placement of the first-night candle sets the stage for the rest of the Chanukah celebration, with an additional candle being lit each night. By the final night, all nine candles, including the shamash, are lit, bringing warmth and light to the festival.
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Additional candles each night
The lighting of candles is the main ritual of Hanukkah. As Hanukkah lasts eight days, there are eight candles on the Hanukkah Menorah, also known as the Chanukiah. There is also a ninth candle, the Shamash, which is used to light the other eight. This is placed in a distinct position, usually in the centre, and is lit every night.
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 the final night when all nine candles are burning. This means that an additional candle is lit each night.
The Shamash is also known as the "helper" candle. The original Menorah, which can be seen on the emblem of the state of Israel, had seven candles. An eighth candle was added when Hanukkah became an eight-day celebration.
To complete the ritual on all eight nights with one menorah, you will need a total of 44 candles. The bare minimum number of candles needed for Hanukkah is eight, with one candle lit by the head of the household each day. However, this is not a common practice.
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Total candles needed for all eight nights
The Festival of Lights, Hanukkah, is celebrated by lighting candles on a menorah for eight nights. The menorah holds nine candles: eight candles for each night of Hanukkah and one helper candle, known as the shamash, which is set apart from the others and used to light the other candles.
On the first night of Hanukkah, two candles are placed in the menorah: the shamash and another candle to mark the first night. On the second night, the shamash and two other candles are lit, and so on. By the eighth and final night, all nine candles are lit.
To complete the ritual on all eight nights with one menorah, you will need a total of 44 candles. The bare minimum number of candles needed for Hanukkah is eight (one candle per night), but this is not a common practice.
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Frequently asked questions
You will need two candles for the first night of Chanukah. One is the shamash or "helper" candle, and the other candle designates it as the first night.
You will need a total of 44 candles per menorah to complete the ritual on all eight nights.
You light one additional candle each night. So, on the second night, you light the shamash and one other candle. On the third night, you light the shamash and two other candles, and so on.
The shamash is the "helper" candle used to light the other candles. It is placed in a designated spot, usually in the centre, and is set apart from the other eight candles.
