Learning how to light the menorah takes about five minutes: place the candles right to left, light the shamash first, then light the candles left to right, newest first, and recite the blessings. That is the entire ritual — and once you know how to light the menorah, you can do it confidently on any of the eight nights. Below is the complete guide: what you need, the exact candle order for each night, the blessings with translations, where to place the menorah, the Shabbat timing rules for 2026, and safety basics.

Key Facts

• The menorah for Hanukkah (properly called a hanukkiah) has 9 branches: 8 candles plus the shamash, the raised “helper” candle.
• Place right to left, light left to right: new candles are added to the left each night, but you always light the newest candle first.
• Blessings: 2 every night; a 3rd blessing (Shehecheyanu) is added on the first night only.
• When: after nightfall each evening (about 30 minutes of burn time); on Friday evenings, light before sunset ahead of Shabbat.
• Where: in a window facing the street, so the lights publicize the miracle — or by the doorway on the side opposite the mezuzah.

First: The Right Menorah

The Hanukkah menorah — hanukkiah in Hebrew — has nine branches: eight at one level for the nightly candles, and a ninth, the shamash (“attendant” or “helper”), set apart, usually higher or lower in the center. Do not confuse it with the seven-branched Temple menorah depicted on Israel’s emblem; that is a different, ancient object, and a seven-branch candelabrum is not used for Hanukkah.

You will also need:

• Candles or oil: standard Hanukkah candles fit most menorahs; they should burn at least 30 minutes. Small olive-oil cups with wicks are the traditional alternative and many families prefer them.
• A shamash candle: one per night, used only for lighting the others.
• Matches or a long lighter, and a non-flammable, stable surface — a metal tray or ceramic plate under the menorah catches drips.

The Candle Order: Right to Left, Then Left to Right

This is the part everyone gets backwards the first time, so here it is slowly:

Placing the candles (right to left): On night one, place a single candle in the far-right holder. On night two, keep that candle and add a second one to its left. Each night, the new candle goes to the left of the previous ones. By night eight, all eight holders are filled.

Lighting the candles (left to right, newest first): Light the shamash first and hold it. Then use it to light the candles starting with the leftmost — the one you just placed tonight — and move right. The newest light always gets kindled first, honoring the new night.

The blessings come before the lighting. Recite them (below), then light. After lighting, the shamash is placed back in its own holder — it is not blown out; it stays lit with the others.

Night-by-night for 2026 (exact dates here): night 1 (Fri Dec 4) = 1 candle, night 2 (Sat Dec 5) = 2, night 3 (Sun Dec 6) = 3, night 4 (Mon Dec 7) = 4, night 5 (Tue Dec 8) = 5, night 6 (Wed Dec 9) = 6, night 7 (Thu Dec 10) = 7, night 8 (Fri Dec 11) = 8.

Quotable: “Right to left to place, left to right to light — the newest flame always goes first.”

The Blessings (With Translations)

Two blessings are recited every night before lighting; the third is added on the first night only. They are traditionally said in Hebrew. Here is a standard transliteration with translation:

Blessing 1 — for the commandment of lighting:
Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha’olam, asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav, v’tzivanu l’hadlik ner shel Hanukkah.
“Blessed are You, God, Ruler of the universe, who sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to kindle the Hanukkah light.”

Blessing 2 — for the miracles:
Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha’olam, she’asah nissim la’avoteinu, bayamim hahem bazman hazeh.
“Blessed are You, God, Ruler of the universe, who performed miracles for our ancestors in those days, at this time.”

Blessing 3 — Shehecheyanu (first night only):
Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha’olam, shehecheyanu v’kiy’manu v’higi’anu lazman hazeh.
“Blessed are You, God, Ruler of the universe, who has given us life, sustained us, and brought us to this moment.”

After the blessings, many families sing Maoz Tzur (“Rock of Ages”), the classic Hanukkah hymn. For detailed blessing texts with audio, Chabad.org’s menorah guide is an excellent reference used by millions each year.

Where to Place the Menorah

The guiding principle is pirsumei nisa — “publicizing the miracle.” The lights are meant to be seen:

• Best: in a front window facing the street, so passersby see the growing flames.
• Also traditional: just inside the doorway, on the left side as you enter (opposite the mezuzah on the right doorpost) — so you are symbolically surrounded by commandments.
• Height: ideally within roughly a handbreadth to 10 handbreadths off the ground in classical sources; in practice, a tabletop or windowsill is normal. Public giant menorahs are a modern custom and follow their own rules.

Keep the menorah away from curtains, drafts, and anything flammable — and somewhere it will not be knocked over.

How Long the Candles Must Burn

The candles should burn for at least 30 minutes after nightfall. This is a real requirement, not a suggestion: the mitzvah is in the publicized light, so “lighting” a candle that gutters out in five minutes doesn’t fulfill it. Use full-size Hanukkah candles or enough oil, and on Friday evenings (when candles are lit early, before sunset) use extra-long candles so they are still burning well after dark.

One more rule with real meaning: don’t use the Hanukkah lights for ordinary purposes. Don’t read by them or use them to light the room. They are sacred light, set apart — which is precisely why the shamash exists: if you need practical light from the arrangement, the shamash is the “extra” flame that makes the others’ glow incidental.

Shabbat Timing in 2026 (Important)

Because Hanukkah overlaps Shabbat twice in 2026, two nights follow special timing:

• Friday, December 4 (night 1) and Friday, December 11 (night 8): Light the Hanukkah candles before lighting Shabbat candles — about 18 minutes before sunset. Use long-burning candles, and once Shabbat begins, the candles must not be touched, moved, or relit.
• Saturday, December 5 (night 2): Light after Shabbat ends at nightfall, following Havdalah.

The Friday timing is the detail that trips up guests and new celebrants most: an after-dinner lighting is impossible on those nights, so plan gatherings earlier.

The Story Behind the Flames

The ritual reenacts the Temple miracle: after the Maccabees recaptured Jerusalem, only one day’s supply of pure olive oil remained for the Temple menorah — yet it burned for eight days, long enough to prepare more. That is why we light for eight nights, why the foods of Hanukkah are fried in oil, and why the whole holiday is a festival of light. For the full history, see what is Hanukkah.

Quotable: “Eight nights, one more flame each time — Hanukkah is the only holiday that gets brighter as it goes.”

Safety Basics

Real flames, every night, for eight nights — take them seriously:

• Never leave burning candles unattended. Blow them out (or let them burn down safely) if everyone leaves the room.
• Stable, non-flammable surface — a metal tray is ideal. Keep away from curtains, paper decorations, and Christmas trees.
• Kids and pets: light where small hands and tails can’t reach; let children participate by placing the unlit candles or holding the shamash with help.
• Oil lamps: keep extra oil away from the flame, and trim wicks so flames stay small and steady.

After the Lighting: Make an Evening of It

The candles need 30 minutes of burn time — traditionally, families stay nearby rather than leaving the flames alone, which is how Hanukkah became a gathering holiday. Play dreidel, sing, and eat: the classic move is to light first, then sit down to a table of foods fried in oil. Our Hanukkah dinner menu has night-by-night ideas, from latkes to sufganiyot to brisket.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to light the menorah — what is the exact order?
Place candles right to left (newest candle on the left), recite the blessings, light the shamash, then light the candles left to right starting with the newest. Return the shamash to its holder.

Which side do you put the first candle on?
The far right. Each following night, add the new candle to the left of the previous ones.

How many blessings are said when lighting the menorah?
Two every night; three on the first night, when the Shehecheyanu blessing is added.

What is the shamash candle for?
The shamash (“helper”) is the ninth candle, set apart from the eight. You light it first and use it to kindle the others. It also means the Hanukkah lights themselves are never used for ordinary illumination.

Where should the menorah be placed?
In a window facing the street is ideal, to publicize the miracle. Alternatively, just inside the doorway on the left side (opposite the mezuzah).

Can you light the menorah on Shabbat?
Yes, with adjusted timing: on Friday evening light before sunset (before Shabbat candles); on Saturday night light after Shabbat ends. The candles must not be touched or relit once Shabbat has begun.