Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday that celebrates the miracle of the Maccabees’ oil lasting eight days instead of one. Commemorated through a series of rituals, the holiday begins each year with a special candle-lighting service. For those who follow the tradition, there are key points to remember in order to answer the question “What candle is lit tonight for Hanukkah?”
To answer the question of what candle is lit tonight for Hanukkah, first a bit of background information is in order. Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday celebrated annually by the Jewish people. Dating back to 164 BCE, its celebration commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem following the revolt of the Maccabees against the Seleucid Empire.
At the centre of the Hanukkah tradition is the lighting of an eight-branched menorah, or Hanukkiah, known also as a Chanukkiah. The nine-candle version of the menorah, it is meant to remember the miracle of the one-day’s worth of oil that burned for eight straight days, allowing the Jewish people to rededicate the temple. On the first day of Hanukkah, the shamash (or “servant”) candle is lit first, and then the candles corresponding to the current day of the eight-day festival are lit. This continues until all the Hanukkah candles are lit.
On the first night, one candle is lit in addition to the shamash. On the second night, two candles are lit. This pattern continues until the eighth night when all eight Hanukkah candles are lit. Depending on which Hanukkah day it is, what candle is lit tonight for Hanukkah can differ.
How do you Light the Menorah?
The traditional way to light the menorah for Hanukkah is to light it from left to right. The shamash, which is a helper candle and is traditionally placed in the middle, is lit first. Then the remaining candles are lit in a left to right direction. The latter candles should be lit in descending order from high to low, so the tallest candle of the menorah is lit first, followed by a slightly shorter one.
Table of Contents
What Candles Are Lit Tonight for Hanukkah?
On the First Night:
On the first night of Hanukkah, only one candle—the second from the right—is lit in addition to the shamash.
On the Second Night:
On the second night, two candles—the two rightmost ones—are lit in addition to the shamash.
On the Third Night:
On the third night, three candles—the leftmost, middle and rightmost ones—are lit in addition to the shamash.
On Subsequent Nights:
On nights after the third night, the two rightmost candles plus one additional candle are lit. The additional candle starts on the fourth night and moves to the left every night until all eight candles on the menorah are lit on the eighth night.
Following the lighting of the menorah, holiday prayers are recited and traditional Hanukkah songs are sung in celebration. The yearly tradition serves to honor the Jewish people’s reclaiming of their religious liberty, a milestone celebrated annually and marked with the lighting of the Hanukkah menorah. Each night, the addition of a new candle symbolizes the miracle of the Maccabees’ oil lasting eight days instead of one.
To sum it up, what candle is lit tonight for Hanukkah depends on how far the eight-day Hanukkah festival is. The shamash differs from the other candles, as it is lit first before the remaining Hanukkah candles are added on the subsequent days. By following the pattern of lighting from left to right, the Hanukkah menorah is brightened every night as the holiday progresses.
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Last update 2023-11-27. Price and product availability may change.