Tyler Brooks
Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is a Jewish celebration that commemorates the successful rebellion of the Jewish people against the Syrians in 162 BCE. The festival centres around the nightly lighting of the Chanukiah or menorah, an eight-branched candelabra with a ninth candle, known as the shamash or helper candle, used to light the others. On the first night of Hanukkah, only the shamash and the first candle are lit. This year, Hanukkah begins at sundown on Sunday, December 14, and the first candle will be lit after sunset on this day.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | Begins at sundown on Sunday, 14 December 2025 |
| First Candle | Lit on the first night of Hanukkah |
| Placement | Placed in the right-most spot of the menorah |
| Timing | After sundown |
| Number of Candles | One candle is lit on the first night |
| Blessings | Recited before each candle is lit |
| Custom | Women don't work for at least the first half-hour of the candles' burning |
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What You'll Learn
The first candle is lit on the first night of Hanukkah
The Festival of Lights, or Hanukkah, is an 8-day Jewish celebration that commemorates the successful rebellion of the Maccabees against the Syrians in 162 BCE. It also celebrates the reconsecration of the Temple in Jerusalem, which had been desecrated by the Syrians. The festival is marked by the nightly lighting of the Chanukiah or menorah, an eight-branched candelabra with a place for a ninth candle, the shamash or "helper candle", which is used to light the others.
On the first night of Hanukkah, the shamash and the first candle are lit. The shamash is placed in its designated spot, usually in the centre, and the first candle is placed in the right-most spot. The blessings are recited before the candles are lit, and it is customary for women not to work for at least the first half-hour of the candles' burning. The candles are lit after sundown, when it is dark, and they burn for approximately half an hour.
The menorah is lit from left to right, and blessings are said as each candle is lit. On the second night, a second candle is placed to the left of the first but is lit first, and so on, until the eighth night when all nine candles are lit. An additional candle is lit each night, until the Chanukiah is fully illuminated on the final night.
There are some variations in customs between different Jewish communities. For example, in Sephardic communities, the shamash is lit last, and a different candle or match is used to light the other candles. In Ashkenazi communities, the shamash is lit first and is used to light the other candles.
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The Chanukiah or menorah is used for the lighting
The central feature of Hanukkah is the nightly lighting of the Chanukiah or menorah. This takes place during the eight-day Jewish festival of lights, which commemorates the successful rebellion of the Jewish people against the Syrians in 162 BCE.
The Chanukiah or menorah is a candelabra with nine branches or candle holders. Eight of the candles are placed in a line, and the ninth is placed out of alignment, either at a different height or in a different position. This ninth candle is known as the 'shamash' or 'helper candle', and is used to light the other eight candles.
On the first night of Hanukkah, the shamash and the first candle are lit. An additional candle is lit on each successive night until, on the eighth night, all nine candles are illuminated. The menorah is lit from left to right, and blessings are recited before each candle is lit.
The lighting of the Chanukiah or menorah is a symbolic tradition that recalls the miracle of the original festival. It is said that there was only enough consecrated oil to keep the temple lamp burning for one day, but it miraculously lasted for eight days.
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The shamash or 'helper' candle is also lit each night
Hanukkah is an 8-day Jewish festival of lights, commemorating the successful rebellion of the Jewish people against the Syrians in 162 BCE. It also celebrates the survival of Judaism. The festival is marked by the nightly lighting of the Chanukiah or menorah, an eight-branched candelabra with a place for a ninth candle, the shamash or helper candle, which is used to light the others.
The shamash is also known as the "attendant" or "sexton" candle. It is placed in a distinct location, usually higher, lower, or to the side of the other eight candles. The shamash is lit each night and is used to light the other candles. This is because it is forbidden to use the Hanukkah lights for any practical purpose, so the shamash preserves the sanctity of the other candles. The shamash is also lit first and remains lit throughout the lighting of the other candles.
The shamash is an important feature of the Hanukkah menorah, distinguishing it from the seven-branched menorah used in the ancient Temple in Jerusalem. The shamash is usually placed in the middle or to the left side of the other candles. It is placed in its designated spot on the menorah after the other candles have been lit.
The shamash is lit each night of Hanukkah, along with one candle on the first night, two on the second, and so on until the eighth night when all nine candles are lit. The menorah is lit from left to right, with blessings said before each candle is lit. The shamash is usually lit first, although some Hasidic Jews follow the Sephardic custom of lighting the shamash last, using a different candle or match to light the other candles.
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Blessings are recited before the candles are lit
Hanukkah, the Jewish "Festival of Lights", begins at sundown on the 25th day of the month of Kislev in the Hebrew calendar and continues for eight days. The festival commemorates the successful rebellion of the Jewish people against the Syrians in 162 BCE, and the subsequent rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem.
The nightly lighting of the Chanukiah or menorah is the central feature of the observance. The menorah is an eight-branched candelabra with a place for a ninth candle, the shamash or "helper candle", used to light the others. One candle is lit on the first night of Hanukkah, and an additional candle is lit on each successive night until the eighth night, when the Chanukiah is fully illuminated.
> Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha'olam, asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav v'tzivanu l'hadlik ner Shel Hanukkah.
Translation: Praised are You, Our God, Ruler of the universe, Who made us holy through Your commandments and commanded us to kindle the Hanukah lights.
> Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha'olam, she-asah nisim la'avoteinu bayamim hahem baz'man hazeh.
Translation: Blessed are You, LORD our God, King of the universe, Who performed miracles for our ancestors in those days at this time...
After the lights are kindled, the hymn Hanerot Halalu is recited. It is customary for women not to work for at least the first half-hour of the candles' burning.
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Hanukkah is also called the Festival of Lights
Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights, is an eight-day celebration that commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. This victory is also known as the "Miracle of Lights". Over 2,000 years ago, the Jewish people, led by Judah Maccabee, revolted against their oppressors, who had desecrated the Temple by trying to assimilate the Jewish people and forcing them to worship Greek gods.
The festival is observed by lighting the candles of a candelabrum with nine branches, commonly called a menorah or hanukkiah. The hanukkiah is lit from left to right, and blessings are recited before each candle is lit. On the first night of Hanukkah, one candle, the shammash or "helper candle", and the first candle are lit. An additional candle is lit on each successive night until, on the final night, all eight candles are lit together with the shammash.
The story of Hanukkah is told in the books of the First and Second Maccabees, the writings of Josephus, and later rabbinical writings. According to the Talmud, when it was time to rededicate the Second Temple, only one day's worth of pure oil was found to burn in the temple's menorah. However, the oil miraculously lasted for eight days, which was enough time to prepare a fresh supply of oil. This miracle is commemorated by the eight days of Hanukkah, during which lamps are lit in the evening over the doors of homes.
The name "Festival of Lights" is derived from a comment by Josephus in Antiquities of the Jews: "And from then on we celebrate this festival, and we call it Lights". The Hebrew translation of Antiquities initially used the term "Festival of Lamps", but by the end of the 19th century, the translation had evolved to "Festival of Lights".
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Frequently asked questions
The first candle for Hanukkah is lit at sundown on the first night of the festival.
The first night of Hanukkah in 2025 is the evening of Sunday, December 14.
The first candle lit on Hanukkah is called the shammash, shamash candle, or "helper" candle.
The shammash candle is used to light the other candles on the menorah.
The blessings are recited before the candles are lit.
