▷ Hanukkah When To Light The Candles?

The Jewish festival of Hanukkah celebrates the rededication of the ancient Temple in Jerusalem following the Maccabean revolt. Hanukkah is an eight-day holiday, which marks the beginning of the new year of Kislev. One of the most defining customs of Hanukkah is the candle lighting ceremony. To fully understand when and how to light the Hanukkah candles it is helpful to have a basic explanation of the traditional customs and a brief overview of the history of the holiday.

Table of Contents

1 When to Light the Hanukkah Candles?

When to Light the Hanukkah Candles?

Hanukkah begins on the 25th day of the Jewish month of Kislev. The candle-lighting ceremony takes place every day that the holiday is celebrated. On each night of Hanukkah a special blessing is recited over the candles and then the lighted candles are placed on the Hanukkiah, a nine-branched candelabra. The ninth, or highest, candle is used to light the other candles. The blessing and the candle-lighting should be done while facing the menorah, and the light should be seen for at least 30 minutes after lighting.

The blessing and the lighting of the candles should begin at sunset and no later than 30 minutes before sunset. Some people start the evening service earlier in order to ensure that the lighting time will not be over too soon. Additionally, it is customary to sit down to a festive meal with family and friends after the lighting ceremony.

The Blessing Of The Candles

Before lighting each night’s candles, a special blessing called the Birkat Ha-mazon or Grace After Meals should be recited. The blessing is traditionally said in Hebrew, however there are English translations available. The blessing is repeated before each lighting of the candles, starting the first night of Hanukkah.

The Lighted Candles Symbolism

The lighted candles are a reminder of the renewed hope of victory that Judas Maccabees and his family had many years ago when they rededicated the Temple. The eight nights of Hanukkah symbolize the miracle of the rededication, when the Maccabee family only had enough oil to light the Temple for one night, but it miraculously lasted for eight. On each night of Hanukkah, a new candle is lit on the menorah, with the number of candles increasing one by one until all eight are lit.

The Ninth Candle

The ninth candle of the Hanukkiah, called the shamash, is set aside from the other eight candles. It is used to light the other candles, and according to tradition it should be higher than the other candles, while the center candle should remain lower than the others. It is used to symbolize a servant or “shamash” and not part of the total number of eight candles.

In conclusion, the Hanukkah candle-lighting ceremony is an important part of the 8-day holiday. Evening services, the recitation of the blessing and the lighting of the candles begin at sunset each night of the holiday. The light of the hanukkiah reminds us of the triumph of the Maccabees and the surprise eight-day long miracle when they rededicated the Temple.

The traditional Hanukkah celebration is a joyous time for Jewish families to come together and celebrate the freedom to practice their faith. Celebrating Hanukkah with the candle-lighting ceremony can bring people together to share the pleasure of this festive holiday.

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Last update 2023-11-27. Price and product availability may change.