Chloe Adams
Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is an eight-day Jewish celebration that begins at sundown on the 25th day of the Hebrew month of Kislev. The first candle is lit on the first night of Hanukkah, with one additional candle lit on each successive night until the eighth night, when the Chanukiah (menorah) is fully illuminated. In 2023, Hanukkah began at nightfall on December 7 and ended on December 15, with the first candle lit on Thursday, December 7.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 25 December 2024 |
| First candle | Lit on the first night of Hanukkah |
| Number of candles | 44 over eight nights |
| First candle position | Far right of the menorah |
| Second candle position | Immediate left of the first candle |
| Candle lighting order | Left to right |
| Candle placement order | Right to left |
| Candle lighting time | After nightfall |
| Last day | 2 January 2025 |
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What You'll Learn
The first candle is lit at sundown on the first night
Hanukkah, also spelled Chanukah, is Judaism's "festival of lights". It is celebrated annually by Jews across the religious observance spectrum, from Reform to Conservative to Orthodox. The festival commemorates the successful rebellion of the Jewish people against the Syrians in the Maccabean War of 162 BCE and the subsequent rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem.
The first candle of Hanukkah is lit at sundown on the first night, marking the beginning of the eight-day festival. This candle, known as the shamash or "helper" candle, is placed in the centre of the menorah, a multibranched candelabra. The shamash is used to light the other candles, which are added from right to left but lit from left to right on the menorah.
The lighting of the first candle is a significant moment in the Hanukkah celebration. Before lighting the candle, it is customary to recite three blessings, with the candle being lit after the blessings have been said. The blessings and candle lighting are usually performed while standing and can be led by anyone, regardless of age or gender.
The menorah holds a special significance in Hanukkah. It is traditionally placed where it can be seen from the outside, such as a doorway or windowsill, to symbolize the spreading of God's light to all nations. The menorah itself has eight branches, with a ninth place for the shamash candle. While fresh candles are used each night, the shamash remains lit throughout the festival.
The first candle of Hanukkah is lit at sundown, marking the beginning of a joyous and meaningful celebration for Jews around the world. It is a time to gather with family and friends, recite blessings, sing songs, play games, and honour the history and traditions of the Jewish faith.
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The shammash or 'helper' candle is lit first
Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is an eight-day Jewish observance that remembers the Jewish people's struggle for religious freedom. The festival celebrates the triumph of light over darkness and spirituality over materiality. It is customary to light a candle on each night of Hanukkah, with an additional candle being lit on each successive night until, on the eighth night, all candles are illuminated.
The shamash, or helper candle, is the ninth candle on the Hanukkah menorah, which is used to light the other eight candles. The shamash is typically distinguished from the other candles, either by being placed at a different height or offset to the side. This distinction serves to show that the shamash is not a mitzvah candle but an instrument that enables the other candles to form a mitzvah.
On the first day of Hanukkah, only the shamash and the first candle are lit. The shamash is lit first and then used to light the first candle. This order of lighting is important, as it symbolises the triumph of light over darkness and the importance of using light for religious purposes.
The shamash plays a crucial role in the Hanukkah celebration, not only for its practical function of lighting the other candles but also for its symbolic meaning. The shamash represents the idea of service and helping others, just as a teacher serves and impacts the lives of their students. By lighting the shamash first, we acknowledge its importance and its role in enabling the other candles to shine.
After all the candles have been lit, the shamash is not extinguished but is left burning alongside the other candles. This is because it is forbidden to use the Hanukkah lights for any practical reason, and the shamash can be used if a candle is needed, preserving the sanctity of the mitzvah lights.
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The shamash is used to light the other candles
Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is an eight-day Jewish observance that remembers the Jewish people's struggle for religious freedom. The nightly lighting of the Chanukiah or menorah is a central feature of the holiday.
The Hanukkah menorah, or hanukkiah, is a nine-branched candelabrum. Eight of the nine branches hold candles or oil lamps, with one candle being lit on the first night of Hanukkah, and an additional candle being lit on each successive night. The ninth branch holds a candle called the shamash, which means "helper" or "servant" in Hebrew. The shamash is used to light the other candles.
The shamash is typically distinguished from the other candles in some way, such as by being offset to one side or raised above the others. However, this does not indicate that the shamash is more important than the other candles. In fact, the eight other candles, one for each night of the holiday, are considered the core of the mitzvah.
After the shamash has been used to light the other candles, it has served its purpose. However, it is not customary to blow out the shamash candle, but rather to let it continue burning alongside the other candles. Some people choose to put out the shamash candle after using it so that they can reuse it the next day.
In 2025, Hanukkah will begin at sundown on Sunday, December 14, and the first candle will be lit that evening.
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The candles are placed right to left, but lit left to right
Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is an eight-day Jewish observance that remembers the Jewish people's struggle for religious freedom. It commemorates the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem after a group of Jewish warriors defeated the occupying Greek armies. The festival celebrates the triumph of light over darkness and spirituality over materiality.
The first day of Hanukkah marks the start of the festival. On the first day, only the shammash, or "helper" candle, and the first candle are lit. The shammash is used to light the other candles. The shamash candle is placed in a designated spot, usually in the centre, and the first night's candle is placed in the rightmost spot. The blessings are said before the candles are lit.
The candles are placed in the menorah from right to left, but they are lit from left to right. The newest candle is always lit first. Each night, another candle is added so that on the eighth and final night of Hanukkah, all nine candles (the shamash plus eight others) are lit.
The menorah is lit from left to right, and people say blessings when the menorah is lit. The Hebrew letters printed on the sides of a dreidel are an acronym for the phrase "a great miracle happened there", referring to the miracle of the oil.
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The menorah is lit in each household
Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is an eight-day Jewish observance that remembers the Jewish people's struggle for religious freedom. The festival celebrates the triumph of light over darkness and spirituality over materiality. It commemorates the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem after a group of Jewish warriors defeated the occupying Greek armies.
The central feature of Hanukkah is the nightly lighting of the menorah, an eight-branched candelabra with a place for a ninth candle, the shamash, used to light the others. The shamash, or "helper" candle, is lit first each night, followed by one candle on the first night, two on the second, and so on until all eight candles are lit on the eighth night. The menorah is lit from left to right, and blessings are recited before each candle is lit.
In addition to the nightly candle-lighting, traditional Hanukkah foods are also an important part of the celebration. These include fried foods cooked in oil, such as latkes (fried potato pancakes) and sufganiyot (jelly doughnuts), as well as dairy products. The custom of giving money to charity is also associated with Hanukkah, reflecting the belief that the Jewish people are called by God to help make the world a better place.
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Frequently asked questions
The first candle of Hanukkah is lit at sundown on the 25th day of the Jewish month of Kislev, which falls between late November and late December on the Gregorian calendar.
The first candle is lit on the right side of the menorah to mark the first night of Hanukkah. It is one of nine candles, including the shamash, or "helper" candle, which is placed in the centre and used to light the other eight.
The first candle of Hanukkah commemorates the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem in the 2nd century BC. After liberating the Temple from occupying forces, the Jews found only a small supply of ritually pure oil, which miraculously lasted for eight days.
Before lighting the first candle, it is traditional to recite three blessings. The shamash candle is lit first, followed by the first candle, which is placed on the right-most side of the menorah.
