Hanukkah is one of the most important celebrations of the Jewish faith. The festival, which lasts eight days, celebrates the rededication of the Temple of Jerusalem which took place in the year 164 B.C. As part of the celebration, Jews around the world light the menorah, a multi-armed candelabra, every evening during Hanukkah. But just how many Hanukkah candles are lit today?
The custom of lighting a Hanukkah menorah began centuries ago. Today, the lighting of a Hanukkah menorah is one of the ways that Jewish people celebrate the festival. However, the exact number of Hanukkah candles that are lit today can vary.
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How Many Hanukkah Candles Are Lit Today?
Traditional Eight-Day Hanukkah Menorah
Typically, each night of Hanukkah, Jews around the world light a nine-branched menorah. This menorah is also known as a “chanukiah” or a “Hanukkah lamp.” The menorah is composed of 9 candles, with 8 of the candles representing the 8 nights of Hanukkah. Every night of Hanukkah, one additional candle is lit, starting on the first night of the holiday. Thus, on the eighth night of Hanukkah, all 8 of the candles are lit.
Modern Seven-Night Hanukkah Menorah
Over the centuries, the usage of Hanukkah menorahs with 8 candles faded as a large number of Hanukkah menorahs only featured 7 candles. This seven-armed menorah is used by Jews in many countries, including in Europe and North America.
In this seven-night Hanukkah menorah, for each of the seven nights of Hanukkah, one additional candle is lit. Therefore, by the seventh night of Hanukkah, seven candles are lit on the menorah.
Other Variations
In addition to the two Hanukkah menorahs described above, there can be other variations. Some people have nine-armed menorahs in which all 8 of the candles are lit on the first night of Hanukkah. Other people may use a menorah with 10 arms, each symbolizing one of the 10 miracles that occurred during the time of the Maccabees. The number of candles lit and the number of arms on the menorah can vary from family to family and region to region.
In summary, just how many Hanukkah candles are lit today can vary. Depending upon the type of Hanukkah menorah being used, anywhere from one to seven of the candles can be lit each night of Hanukkah. So depending upon the family traditions and types of menorahs used, the exact number of Hanukkah candles lit today can be different.
The lighting of the candles on the Hanukkah menorah is one of the ways that Jews around the world celebrate and honor the festival of Hanukkah. Through lighting the Hanukkah menorah, Jews remember the miracles and events that took place during the Festival of Dedication. Every night of the holiday, one more candle is added to the menorah, until all the candles are lit on the last night of Hanukkah.
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Last update 2023-11-27. Price and product availability may change.