Hanukkah, sometimes referred to as the “Festival of Lights,” starts off on the evening of the 25th day of the month of Kislev on the Hebrew calendar. The holiday usually falls between late November and late December on the Western calendar. One of the best-loved Hanukkah traditions is lighting an eight-branched Menorah, with candles that all go in the same direction. But which direction do they go?
The eight-branched Menorah, also known as a Chanukiah, is lit every night of Hanukkah. Each day of the festival, a single candle is lit until all eight candles are lit on the eighth day. It’s customary to give each individual candle a distinct name. Starting on the far-right side, the candle names are Shamash, Honor, Praise, Strength, Heroism, Praise, Might, and Establish, in that order.
The Shamash candle is slightly different than the other seven. It is usually the tallest of the candles and is used to kindle the other candles. It’s also typically a different color than the other candles. The Shamash doesn’t add to the number of the night’s candles, but rather acts as a service or helper candle and should always be lit first.
So, which direction do the other seven candles of the Menorah go? Traditionally, the candles face left in a curving motion. This means that when the Menorah is viewed, it will look like the letters “Shin”, the first letter of the word “Shabbat”, which means “Sabbath.” This makes sense because on the seventh day of Hanukkah, Shabbat starts off.
Some Ashkenazi Jews, those of German or Eastern European descent, light the Hanukkah candles on the right side and curve them back to the left. This way, the Menorah looks like the word “Nun”, which is the first letter of the word “Nes”, meaning miracle.
At the end of the ceremony, at the end of the eighth night, the direction of the candles is reversed. For example, if the Jews lit the candles from left to right, then they will break the sukkah from right to left (since a sukkah is the symbol of the holiday).
No matter the direction of the candles, setting up a Menorah is a sacred and beloved tradition that signals the start of Hanukkah. It’s a perfect opportunity to celebrate the miracle of the season and share the newfound freedom with family and friends. So no matter which way you decide to light your candles, enjoy the Festival of Lights safely and joyously!
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Last update 2023-11-27. Price and product availability may change.