Jessie Taylor
Chanukah, also known as Hanukkah, is a Jewish festival of lights and feast of dedication. The festival is celebrated by lighting candles on a menorah, a candelabra with seven branches. The Chanukah menorah, or chanukiah, has nine branches, with eight candles representing each night of the festival, and a ninth candle, known as the shamash, which translates to attendant or servant candle. This candle is used to light the other eight candles. The shamash is usually placed in the centre of the menorah, at a different height to the other candles. The candles are placed in the menorah from right to left and lit from left to right. The shamash is lit first, followed by the other candles. The type of candle used is a matter of personal preference, but olive oil is considered ideal, and cotton wicks are preferred.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of candles | 8 for each night of Chanukah, plus 1 helper candle or shamash |
| Candle placement | The first candle goes on the extreme right side of the menorah, with each subsequent night's candle added to the left of the previous night's candle |
| Candle lighting order | The shamash or helper candle is lit first, followed by the remaining candles from left to right |
| Candle type | Can be wax or oil-based; olive oil is ideal, and cotton wicks are preferred |
| Candle colour | Yellow, Blue, or any colour of your choice |
| Blessings | Recited before or after lighting the candles, depending on tradition |
| Candle burning duration | At least 30 minutes on weeknights, and up to 1.5 hours on Friday evenings |
| Menorah placement | Ideally outside the doorpost or in a window facing the street, but indoors if necessary |
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What You'll Learn
Blessings and procedures
The Chanukah menorah, also known as a Chanukiah, has nine branches, accommodating eight candles and one shamash, or "helper" candle. The shamash candle is placed in the centre of the menorah, at a different height to the other eight candles. The shamash is lit first, using a match or lighter, and is then used to light the other candles, from left to right. The shamash is placed back in its holder and remains lit, in case it is needed to relight any of the other candles.
The candles are lit at nightfall on each of the eight nights of Chanukah. On the first night, only the shamash and one other candle are lit. On each subsequent night, a new candle is added and lit, so that on the eighth night, all nine candles are burning.
Before the candles are lit, blessings are recited. On the first night, three blessings are said, and on the remaining nights, the first two blessings are recited. The first blessing is:
> Baruch Atah Adonai Eloheinu Melech Ha'olam, asher kidshanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu l’hadlik ner shel Hanukkah.
> Blessed are You, O Lord Our God, Ruler of the Universe, Who has sanctified us with Your commandments and commanded us to kindle the lights of Chanukah.
The second blessing is:
> Baruch Atah Adonai Eloheinu Melech Ha'olam, she’asah nisim l’avoteinu, b’yamim haheim bazman hazeh.
> Blessed are You, O Lord our God, Ruler of the Universe, Who made miracles for our forefathers in those days at this time.
On the first night, the third blessing is also recited:
> Baruch Atah Ado-nai E-lohaynu melech ha-olam Shehecheyanu v’kiy’manu v’higi-anu laz’man hazeh.
After the candles are lit, it is customary to sing the hymn of Ma’oz Tzur.
The menorah is traditionally placed in a window, facing the street, to publicise the miracle of Chanukah. In some countries, such as America, the menorah is placed inside the home, next to the left side of the door.
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Candle placement
The Chanukah menorah, also known as a Chanukiah, has nine branches, accommodating eight candles and one shamash, or "helper" candle. The shamash candle is placed in the centre of the menorah, at a different height to the other eight candles. The shamash is lit first, using a match or lighter, and is then used to light the other eight candles.
The eight candles of the menorah must be arranged in a straight, even line, with no lights higher than the others. On the first night of Chanukah, only two candles are placed in the menorah: the shamash, and another candle placed at the rightmost spot. On each subsequent night, a new candle is added to the left of the previous night's candle.
The menorah should be placed in a window, ideally to the left of the door, so that it is visible from the street. This is a way of proudly displaying Jewish heritage and traditions. In America, most people light the menorah indoors, in which case the menorah should be placed inside the doorway, next to the left side of the door.
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Candle lighting order
The Chanukah menorah (also known as a chanukiah) is lit each of the eight nights of Chanukah. The first candle goes on the rightmost side of the menorah, and each subsequent night a new candle is added to the left of the previous night's candles. The shamash, or helper candle, is placed in a ninth spot that is at a different elevation and used to light the other candles. It is important to light the shamash first.
On the first night of Chanukah, only two candles are placed in the menorah: the shamash and another candle designating the first night. On the second night, a candle is added to the left of the first night's candle, and so on until the eighth and final night when all nine candles are lit. The shamash is never extinguished and is placed back in its holder after lighting the other candles.
The menorah should be lit around nightfall or after sunset when it is dark. It is customary to say blessings before lighting the candles, with the second blessing thanking God for the miracles performed for the Jewish ancestors. After lighting the candles, the menorah is placed in the window to proudly display Jewish heritage and traditions.
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Candle colour
Chanukah is a Jewish festival of lights and feast of dedication, commemorating the victory of Jewish rebels over the armies of Syria and the liberation and "rededication" of the Temple in Jerusalem. The festival is celebrated by lighting the candles of the menorah.
The menorah is a candelabra, a large candlestick holder for several candles with many arms or branches. The Chanukah menorah, or chanukiah, has nine branches, for eight candles and one shamash or helper candle, which is used to light the others.
The shamash candle is usually lit first and is placed in the centre, with the other eight candles placed in a straight, even line. The candles should be large enough to burn for the required time – at least 30 minutes on weeknights, and up to one-and-a-half hours on Friday evening.
The colour of the Chanukah candles is a matter of personal preference. Some people prefer yellow candles, while others prefer blue. You can even make your own Chanukah candles at home, bringing more colour to your home during the festive season.
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Candle making
Making your own Chanukah candles is a fun and easy craft that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. It's a great way to bring colour to your home during the festive season. Here is a step-by-step guide to making your own Chanukah candles:
Prepare the Wicks
Firstly, you will need to prepare your wicks. You can easily buy candle wicks, or you can use household items such as butcher's twine or any braided cotton string. Avoid using wood, like toothpicks, as these are usually too short. Tie the ends of the wicks to buttons of equal weight and lay them on a rack, ensuring that the ends of each wick are of equal length. If you're making beeswax candles, lay one strand of wick along the edge of a cut sheet of wax, with 3/4 inch of wick hanging beyond the top of the wax.
Melt the Wax
The traditional method of making Chanukah candles involves melting wax. You can use a crock pot, slow cooker, wax melter, or a regular pot with warm water. Alternatively, you can use a specially designed wax-melting pot. Space out your wicks evenly so that you can dip them all at the same time.
Dip and Roll the Wicks
After dipping the wicks into the melted wax, remove them and slowly press down on the centre to create a flat surface. Be careful not to flatten the candles completely. For beeswax candles, tightly roll the wax around the wick and use your finger to smooth and seal the seam.
Trim and Fit the Candles
Once your candles have cooled, trim any excess wick to ensure they fit into your menorah. If the candle is too large, you can slice off excess wax and roll it again to smooth out the angles.
Bless and Light the Candles
When lighting your Chanukah candles, it is customary to recite blessings and perform rituals. The shamash, or ""helper" candle, is usually lit first using a match, lighter, or another flame source. It is then used to light the other candles from left to right. Blessings are said before the candles are lit, and it is traditional for others to say "amen" after each blessing.
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Frequently asked questions
You can use either wax candles or olive oil in a Chanukiah. If you use wax candles, cotton wicks are preferred for the smooth flame they produce. If you use oil, you'll need to use enough oil to burn for at least 30 minutes on weeknights and up to one-and-a-half hours on Friday evenings.
Chanukah candles can be any colour you like! You can buy them or make them yourself.
You'll need 44 candles to complete the ritual on all eight nights with one menorah. Most boxes of Chanukah candles contain 45.
First, light the shamash candle using a match or lighter. Then, recite the blessings. Finally, light the other candles from left to right using the shamash.
Ideally, you should place your menorah outside your doorpost in public view. If you're in America, most people place their menorahs indoors, so you should place yours in a window to the left of the door.
