▷ What Order Do You Light The Candles For Hanukkah?

Hanukkah is an important Jewish holiday that celebrates a miraculous victory. During this eight-day festival, Jewish people light a special menorah every evening with eight candles – one for each day of celebration. In this article, we’ll learn the order in which the candles must be lit according to tradition.

Table of Contents

1 How to Light the Hanukkah Candles

How to Light the Hanukkah Candles

Step 1: Prepare the Menorah

The menorah used in the Hanukkah celebration is called the hanukkiyah. It is arranged with nine identical branches, with a total of eight holders for the candles and one for the shamash (an extra wax candle used to light the other eight). Place the menorah in a visible spot in your home.

Step 2: Gather Items Needed to Light Candles

In addition to the hanukkiyah and the shamash, you will need a box of high-quality candles of the same size and type. This ensures they will burn for exactly 30 minutes and safely light all of the other candles. Be sure to light them with the wick end pointing toward the menorah and the shamash.

Step 3: Add the Candles

The first night of Hanukkah, you will place one candle on the right side of the menorah. Each night thereafter, you will add a new candle to the left of the candles already in place. This ensures that on the last night, the rightmost of the eight candles will represent the first night.

Step 4: Light the Shamash

Light the shamash, and then use it to light the candle on the right side of the menorah, going from right to left. As you’re lighting each candle, recite the blessings, starting with the blessing for lighting the Hanukkah candles, then the blessing of sanctification on the shamash, and finally the blessing for the day’s celebration.

Step 5: Sing Hanukkah Songs

Once the candles are lit, it’s traditional to sing Hanukkah songs. Depending on the family, these might include prayer songs, songs about the candles, or songs about freedom.

Hanukkah is a special time for Jewish people to come together and celebrate a miraculous victory. The lighting of the candles is a significant part of this holiday, so it’s important to understand and practice traditional customs. Following this five-step process, you can light your hanukkiyah with ease and let the joy of Hanukkah fill your home.

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