Hanukkah is an eight-day Jewish Festival of Lights that celebrates the victory of the Maccabees over the Greek-Syrians in 164 BCE. The focal point of the celebration is the lighting of the menorah, a nine-candle holder with one candle, known as the shamash (helper) lit on each night of Hanukkah and one extra candle lit on the first night. Each candle is lit from left to right and at nightfall, a special blessing is recited. As part of the celebration, delicious Hanukkah treats such as sufganiyot (jelly doughnuts), latkes (potato pancakes) and gelt (chocolate coins) are also enjoyed.
The first candle of Hanukkah is lit on the night of the 25th of the Jewish month of Kislev or Tevet and continues for eight days until the second night of the Jewish month of Tevet. Traditionally, two blessings are recited before lighting the shamash. The first is the traditional lighting blessing, known as the “She-Aur ha-Nerot” (He who commanded us to light the lights), and the second is known as the “She-asa Nissim” (who did miracles). The festive Menorah lighting begins after sunset.Table of Contents
What to Expect on Each Evening of Lighting the Candles
The First Night
On the first night of Hanukkah, the shamash is lit and then used to light one additional candle. The shamash is placed in the center or on the right of the other eight candles, and the first candle is placed in the leftmost spot. The first night’s blessings, which include the Chanukah blessing, are completely recited.
The Second – Seventh Night
On each of the nights following the first, the shamash is lit first and then used to light an additional candle from left to right. The remaining candles must have been lit prior to the shamash candle of the night. The everyday blessings are recited, along with the addition of the blessing of the Chanukah lights.
The Eighth Night
On the eighth and final night of Hanukkah, the blessings of the candles are completely recited. All eight candles are then lit, starting with the shamash and moving from right to left.
When to Light
The Chanukah candles are typically lit as soon as nightfall takes place. Depending on the calendar, this timeframe can range from approximately 4:30 PM to as late as 7:30 PM or even later. In some cases, if a person feels that nightfall occurred earlier in the day, the candles may be lit as early as 4:30 PM. It is important to remember that the menorah should not be lit in the presence of daylight, and all lighting should be done after nightfall.
Participating in the candle-lighting each night of Hanukkah is a meaningful way to bring together family and friends to celebrate the miracle of light, joy, and gratitude. While the lighting schedule may vary slightly depending on the year, it can generally be expected that the first candle is lit in the presence of family and friends on the night of the 25th of the Jewish month of Kislev. The eighth candle is lit on the second night of the Jewish month of Tevet. Each night in between is marked with a beautiful blessing and ceremony that pays homage to the miracle of Hanukkah.
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Last update 2023-11-27. Price and product availability may change.