Hanukkah Candles Sizes

 

Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights celebrated in the tradition of Judaism faith; is symbolized y the menorah, where nine candles will be placed. There are special Hanukkah candles used for the menorah and these will be lit for each night of the 8-day long Hanukkah tradition.

Hanukkah Candles Sizes

Hanukkah candle sizes have different dimensions, depending on the size of your menorah. Basically however, four-inch Hanukkah candles will fit most of the traditionally-sized menorah candelabra. 

Just a few centimeters smaller are candles that measure approximately 3 and ¾ inches by 3/8 of an inch. 

To make the celebration have more of the traditional touch, people usually want candles made in Israel especially for Hanukkah. These also come in the dimensions mentioned above plus a good number of ones that are a bit longer, coming in at 6 inches long.

Lighting Ceremony

Each candle of the menorah is not haphazardly lit. There is a specific procedure to light each candle for every night of the Hanukkah. On the 1st night, the shamash or the center candle – that which you place on the highest candleholder usually in the middle of the menorah – is lit and then one candle is placed on the farthest right of the menorah and lit with the shamash.

The farthest right side is you right side when facing the menorah. 

Candles should be lit at night and should remain burning for at least half-an-hour after you have said the traditional prayers. On the first night, there are 3 prayers that need to be said and then for the remaining seven nights, two prayers are said.

For the second night, two candles will be placed, again starting from the farthest right said when you’re facing the menorah and the go towards the center as you continue to add candles every night.

You use a new shamash and then light the candle on the farthest left going out towards the candle on the farthest right. 

On a Friday, the candles should be lit before sunset. 

While the candles are being lit, an ancient chant called the Hanerot Halalu is also performed.

After the candles have been lit-up and prayers recited, the Maoz Tzur is likewise sung. It is a poem written around nine hundred years back and is actually adapted from a folk song which originated in Germany. 

After each lighting ceremony, repast of traditional fried foods and a game of dreidel are usually undertaken. Also, the lighting ceremony is often held together with friends and family to make the celebration even more festive and at the same time solemn, as it is shared with loved ones.