In What Order Are Hanukkah Candles Lit?

Hanukkah is an eight-day festival observed by Jews to celebrate the rededication of the Second Temple of Jerusalem. During this festival, a special menorah – a nine-branched candelabra – is lit every night. The lighting of the candles is an important tradition that is repeated every night of Hanukkah. To perform this candle-lighting ritual correctly, it is important to understand when and how each candle is lit.

On each night of Hanukkah, a single candle is lit using a ninth candle, the shamash (Hebrew for ‘servant’), which is used to kindle the others. The candles are arranged from right to left in a special order, with the shamash as the highest branch. On the first night, one candle is lit in the far right. Each night, an additional candle is lit, moving from right to left, until all eight candles are burning on the eighth night.

Lighting the Candles

Steps of the Ceremony

1. Start by saying the Blessing over the Candles, which is a prayer expressing thanks and appreciation for the miracle.
2. Take the shamash and light it first.
3. Light the first candle and say “One”.
4. Then light the next candle and say “Two”.
5. Continue in this way until all the candles are lit and say “Eight”.
6. Finish the ceremony by saying the Blessing After the Candles.

Rules and Customs

In addition to following the steps of the candle-lighting ceremony, Jews adhere to the following customs:

• The shamash should be lit first, before any of the other candles.
• You should light the candles from right to left.
• All candles should be lit at the same time.
• In a group setting, each person should light his or her own menorah, rather than a centrally located one.
• Kiddush, a prayer, should be said before or after the candles are lit.

It is important to follow the proper order when lighting the Hanukkah candles in order to mark this special holiday correctly. Each night of Hanukkah, one more candle is lit, mirroring the miracle of the oil that stayed lit for 8 days after it was discovered in the rededicated Temple of Jerusalem. By observing this tradition, Jews are spiritually and emotionally connected to their faith’s history.

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