The holiday of Hanukkah is celebrated in many Jewish households to commemorate the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. Traditionally, it is celebrated for eight days, and involves the lighting of a special Hanukkah menorah with nine candles. One of the most beloved customs of Hanukkah is to light the Hanukkah candles each night of the holiday. But how long should the candles be lit?
The exact amount of time a Hanukkah candle should remain lit for varies based on the particular Jewish tradition, though all agree that the candles should remain lit for at least half an hour after nightfall. This is to ensure that one can see the light of the candles and, in the case of multi-story families where other members are entertaining visitors or guests, that the light of the Hanukkah candles will be seen from all stories within the household.
While a Hanukkah menorah traditionally has eight candles, an additional candle, called a shamash, is used to light the menorah. Thus, it is customary to light the shamash first and then to use the flame of the shamash to light the other candles. This is an important part of the ritual of the lighting of the Hanukkah candles and the lighting of the shamash candle should not be skipped.
The first night of Hanukkah, the blessing should be made over all eight candles. After that, each night of the holiday, an additional candle should be lit, and another blessing for the night should be said. This is the same for all eight nights of Hanukkah and for all the blessings made over the candles. After the candles are lit on the final night of Hanukkah, it is customary to leave them burning for the full duration of the evening.
Regardless of how long the flames of the Hanukkah candles burn, it is important to take all necessary safety precautions when lighting and taking care of them. This includes never leaving the lit candles unattended and having a source of water nearby to extinguish the flames when the candles burn out.
In summary, while the exact amount of time the Hanukkah candles should be lit will vary based on Jewish tradition, the standard is for the candles to remain lit for at least a half an hour after nightfall. Other aspects to take into consideration, such as the lighting of the shamash and the additional blessings for each night, are an important part of the ceremony of lighting the Hanukkah candles. Ultimately, it is important to celebrate safely, and remember that safety must always come first.
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Last update 2023-11-27. Price and product availability may change.