Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, is a major Jewish holiday celebrated at the end of the lunar month of Kislev. It is an eight-day commemoration of the rededication of the Second Temple of Jerusalem in the 2nd century BC, and is a time for Jewish families to come together and celebrate the miraculous victory of the Maccabees over the oppressive Antioch ruler, Antiochus IV Epiphanes. One of the central parts of the traditional Hanukkah celebration are eight days of candle lighting, a tradition which is still followed today.
During the Hanukkah holiday, the candles of the Menorah are lit each night for eight days, so the question of “how many days are the candles lit during Hanukkah?” is one that is easily answered.
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Significance
The significance of the eight-day celebration comes from the fact that there was only enough oil in the Temple to keep the menorah lit for one day. Miraculously, it kept burning for eight days, giving time for more consecrated oil to be produced. The eight days represent the original miracle of Chanukah, celebrated by lighting a candle each night.
Order of Celebration
The Hanukkah tradition involves taking a lit candle on the Menorah, and using it to light the other candles, starting with the shamash or helper candle on the far left. This candle is then used to light the other seven. They should be lit from right to left, as it is traditional to light in the direction of the Hebrrew reading order.
Candles
The type of candle used to celebrate Hanukkah varies from country to country, but the most common are beeswax candles. That said, a variety of candles can be used, such as oil lamps, electric lights, and soy candles.
Blessings
The lighting of the menorah has specific blessings that are meant to be said when the first and every subsequent candle is lit. Orthodox Jews will say these blessings every night, while non-Orthodox Jews will often only say them on the first night of Hanukkah.
Practical Considerations
It is important to ensure the safety of the Menorah throughout the entire eight day holiday. The National Fire Protection Association offers guidelines to keep in mind when lighting the menorah. It is best to keep the Menorah away from any flammable material and out of reach from children or pets.
In conclusion, the traditional Hanukkah holiday celebration involves lighting eight candles on a Menorah for each of the eight days of the holiday. The lighting of the Menorah is symbolically significant, as it serves as a reminder the miracle of the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. Safety and fire prevention measures should be taken when lighting the menorah, and the specific blessings should also be said.
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Last update 2023-11-27. Price and product availability may change.