Chloe Adams
Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday that is celebrated with a candle-lighting ritual. The candles used during the celebration are called Hanukkah candles and they are placed on a candelabrum called a menorah. The menorah holds nine candles, eight of which are lit over the course of the eight-day celebration. The ninth candle, called the shamash, is used to light the other eight.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Hanukkah candles, nerot (in Hebrew) |
| Number of candles | Nine candles in total: eight for each night of Hanukkah and one "helper" candle |
| Type of candle | Wax, soy, or beeswax |
| Color | Any color, but blue and white are associated with Judaism and the State of Israel |
| Placement | The "helper" candle is placed at a different height than the other eight candles |
| Lighting order | One candle is lit on the first night, and an additional candle is lit each night until all eight candles are shining on the final night |
| Lighting time | Ideally, the candles are lit at nightfall, defined in Jewish tradition as the moment when three stars appear |
| Retailers | Major retailers like Walmart and Target, Judaica shops, online stores, and grocery stores |
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What You'll Learn
The candles are called 'nerot' in Hebrew
Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday that is celebrated with a menorah, a candelabrum with nine branches. Eight of the nine branches hold candles or oil lamps, with one candle being lit on each of the eight nights of Hanukkah. The ninth branch holds the shamash, or "helper" candle, which is used to light the other eight.
The candles used in the menorah are called nerot in Hebrew. While there is no special name for Hanukkah candles in English, it is perfectly acceptable to refer to them as Hanukkah candles. Hanukkah candles can be made of wax, soy, or beeswax, and they can be any color. However, blue and white candles are often used due to their association with Judaism and the State of Israel.
The menorah is a significant symbol in Judaism, representing the miracle of light. The lighting of the menorah is a central ritual of Hanukkah, bringing light to the darkest days of winter. The nine-branched menorah commemorates the ancient seven-branched menorah that was lit in the Temple in Jerusalem. The miracle of Hanukkah is said to have occurred when a small amount of oil miraculously lasted for eight days, keeping the menorah lit.
The Hanukkah menorah is also known as the hanukkiah, a term that originated in the 18th century among Sephardic communities in the Eastern Mediterranean. It was later introduced into Modern Hebrew by Hemda Ben-Yehuda. The hanukkiah is widely recognized as a symbol of Judaism and is often displayed during the holiday, either on a windowsill or outside the home.
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The candles are lit at nightfall
The candles used during Hanukkah are lit at nightfall, defined in Jewish tradition as the moment when three stars appear. The lighting of the candles is done from left to right. On the first night of Hanukkah, one candle is lit, and this continues for eight days until all eight candles are shining brightly. The candles are placed in a menorah, a nine-branched candelabrum. Eight of the nine branches hold candles that symbolize the eight nights of the holiday. On each night, one more candle is lit than the previous night until the final night when all eight branches are ignited. The ninth branch holds a candle called the shamash, which means "helper" or "servant". The shamash is used to light the other eight candles and is usually placed at a different height from the other candles.
The Hanukkah menorah is also called a hanukkiah or chanukkiyah in Modern Hebrew. The lighting of the menorah is a central ritual of Hanukkah, which is also called the Festival of Lights. The menorah is often placed on a windowsill to shine a light through the darkness during the shortest and darkest days of winter. The use of the menorah as a symbol of Judaism dates back to ancient times when it was used in the Temple in Jerusalem. Today, menorahs come in various styles and materials, including metal, glass, ceramic, electric, and handcrafted designs.
The candles used for Hanukkah can be any colour, but some people prefer to use blue and white candles as these colours are associated with Judaism and the State of Israel. While most people use wax or soy candles, traditionalists may use oil lamps as the original menorahs in the ancient Temple were lit with sacred oil. The miracle of the oil is an important part of the Hanukkah story, as it is said that one day's worth of oil miraculously lasted for eight days.
The lighting of the Hanukkah menorah is a widely celebrated tradition, with notable ceremonies taking place at the White House in the United States and the House of Commons in the United Kingdom. The menorah has become a distinctive symbol of Judaism, often displayed during the holiday to shine a light through the darkness and bring light into people's homes and lives.
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The shamash is the ninth candle
Hanukkah is called the Festival of Lights, with the ritual of lighting the menorah at its centre. The menorah is a nine-branched candelabrum, with eight candles (or oil lamps) representing the eight nights of the holiday. On the ninth branch sits the shamash, a candle used to light the other eight. The shamash is called the "helper" or "servant", and is placed at a different height to distinguish it from the other candles.
The shamash is lit first, and then used to light the other candles, one more each night until the final night when all eight branches are lit. The shamash is not extinguished, but kept burning in case it is needed to light another candle. The shamash is also available for practical use, preserving the sanctity of the other candles, which are not to be used for any practical purpose.
The shamash is usually placed above the other candles, symbolising that a teacher or leader serves others by using their skills to elevate others. The shamash is not a mitzvah candle, but it enables the other candles to form a mitzvah.
The Hanukkah menorah is also called a hanukkiah, and is among the most widely produced articles of Jewish ceremonial art. The tradition of lighting the menorah is an important part of the celebration of Hanukkah, with the lighting of the candles bringing light into the shortest and darkest days of winter.
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The shamash is used to light the other candles
The shamash is the ninth candle on a Hanukkah menorah, also known as a hanukkiah. The shamash is set apart from the other eight candles, often at a different height, either higher or lower. The name shamash means "helper" or "servant", reflecting its function as the candle used to light the other eight candles.
On the first night of Hanukkah, the shamash is lit first and then used to light the first candle on the far right of the menorah. On the second night, two candles are placed on the far right of the menorah. The shamash is lit and used to light the candle closest to the left, and then the candle to the right of it that was lit the night before. This process is repeated each night, with an additional light added to the left of the light lit the previous night. The actual lighting of the candles is done from left to right.
The shamash is typically left lit and placed adjacent to the other candles, even after it has served its primary function of lighting the other candles. This is because it can be used if a candle blows out, preserving the sanctity of the mitzvah lights. The shamash is not a mitzvah candle itself, but it is important as it enables the other candles to form a mitzvah.
The shamash also holds symbolic significance. It serves as a lesson to educators and leaders, reminding them to use their superior skills to help others, much like how a teacher serves their students.
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Hanukkah candles can be any colour
Hanukkah is called the Festival of Lights, with the ritual of lighting the menorah at the centre of the holiday. The menorah is a nine-branched candelabrum, with eight candles representing the eight nights of the holiday and a ninth "helper" candle, called the shamash, used to light the other eight.
The menorah commemorates the miracle of the oil lasting eight days when there was only enough for one. The miracle of the oil is honoured by using oil lamps or candles to light the menorah. While there is no special name for Hanukkah candles, it is fine to refer to them as Hanukkah candles. In Hebrew, they are called nerot, which simply means "candles".
In a pinch, any candles can be used, provided they burn for 30 minutes and are equal in size. Hanukkah candles are ideally lit at nightfall, which in Jewish tradition is defined as the moment when three stars appear.
Hanukkah menorahs come in many different styles, including metal, glass, ceramic, electric, and handcrafted, and can be found in major retailers, Judaica shops, and online.
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Frequently asked questions
The candle for Hanukkah doesn't have a special name, and it's fine to refer to it as a "Hanukkah candle". In Hebrew, the word for candle is "nerot". The nine-branched candelabra that holds the candles is called a "Hanukkah menorah", or "hanukkiah".
The shamash is the ninth candle on a Hanukkah menorah, set apart from the other eight. It is often placed at a different height and is used to light the other candles. The word "shamash" means "helper" or "servant".
Hanukkah candles can be made from wax, soy, or beeswax. They can be any colour, but blue and white candles are common as these are colours associated with Judaism and the State of Israel.
