▷ How Many Candles Do We Light Tonight For Hanukkah?

Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights, is an eight-day celebration in honor of the Maccabean victory over the Syrian besiegers in the year 165 BC. This holiday is celebrated by lighting an increasing number of lights for each of the eight days. But how many candles do you light on the first night?

On the first night of Hanukkah, traditionally, one candle is lit on the center or right side of the Menorah (the nine-branched candelabra). This is referred to as the Shamash candle, or the “helper” candle. The Shamash candle is used to light all the other candles of the Menorah and is not counted towards the eight candles which are lit the remaining days of the festival. On the first night, the second candle, which is placed to the left of the Shamash, is lit. On the next night, two candles (the first one and the new one lit) will be illuminated and so on, increasing the number of lit candles each night until the eighth night.

So, to answer the question: On the first night of Hanukkah, one candle is lit on the Menorah. That is the Shamash. On the second night, two candles are lit, and so on for the remaining nights of the festival.

Each night of Hanukkah holds its own special joy and celebration. On the first night, the lighting of the Shamash is an especially meaningful moment. While the Shamash is generally disregarded during the subsequent celebrations, it serves here as an important reminder of the story behind the holiday. By introducing the tradition of Hanukkah with the lighting of the first candle, we remember the miraculous rededication of the Temple and the zeal of the Maccabees.

For many the tradition of lighting the candles has become an integral part of the celebration of Hanukkah. New memories are created from generation to generation, as each new lighting brings the family closer together, in the spirit of the holiday season.

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