Hanukkah is a special eight-day Jewish holiday that celebrates the victory of the Maccabees over the Syrian-Greeks in 165 B.C.E. The holiday is known for its special traditions, including the lighting of the Menorah. Since the Menorah requires eight candles, it is natural to wonder how many candles should be lit over the course of Hanukkah.
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How Many Candles Should Be Lit Over The Course Of Hanukkah?
Hanukkah is often characterized as the Festival of Lights. At the center of the holiday is the Menorah, a special candlestick with eight holders. This is used to celebrate the miracle of a single day’s worth of oil burning for eight days in the Temple. To commemorate this miracle, one candle is lit each night of the holiday.
The First Night
On the first night of Hanukkah, one candle is lit. This candle is known as the shamash or “servant” and is typically located on the far right of the Menorah. This candle does not represent one of the eight days of the holiday – rather, it is used to light the other candles.
The Remaining Seven Nights
On each of the remaining seven nights, another candle is lit. The candle lit each night is usually placed in the far left of the Menorah. Each night after the shamash is lit, a blessing is said and the newest candle is lit from right to left to commemorate the Battle of the Maccabees. After all seven candles are lit, the Hanukkah Menorah is complete.
Additional Candles
In some families, an additional candle may be lit on the last night of Hanukkah. This candle symbolizes the “Hannah ha-Nes” or “Miracle of the Jar” also associated with the holiday. The “Hannah ha-Nes” tells the story of a jar found in the Temple that was only large enough to host one night’s worth of oil. Just like the original single day’s worth of oil that miraculously lasted for eight days, this jar only held enough oil for one night – yet miraculously lit the Menorah for eight nights.
In summary, on the first night of Hanukkah, one candle is lit. On the the remaining seven nights, one additional candle is lit. The candles are lit from right to left. In some cases, an additional candle may be lit on the last night to remember the “Hannah ha-Nes.” Following these traditions, the Menorah is lit each night of Hanukkah for a total of eight candles.
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Last update 2023-11-27. Price and product availability may change.