LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Hanukkah
built 666 days ago
The most visible aspect of the observance of Hanukkah is lighting of the special Hanukkah Menorah ... called a Hanukkiah. As opposed to the seven candlesticks of the Temple Menorah, the Hanukkiah has nine candles (or sometimes oil lamps), one of which always stands out from the others, usually higher, or off to one side. (Other than this there are no restrictions on the shape of a Hanukkiah, so Jewish artists can exercise a great deal of creativity in designing them. You can find Hanukkiot made of practically every material and in every shape and style you can imagine!) The lamp which stands out is called the Shamash in Hebrew, or Shamus in Yiddish. The shamash is lit first and used to light the remaining lamps, one for each day that the temple menorah miraculously stayed lit. The light is supposed to be displayed prominently -- in a window or on the stoop -- where all who pass by will see it and be reminded of the Miracle. It is worthwhile, if you ever find yourself in Jerusalem over the holiday, to take an evening stroll through the religious neighborhood of Mea Shearim, where you will find such lights beckoning from every home.
Source:
The most important Hanukkah ritual is the candle lighting. Jews light candles in a special candleholder called a "menorah" or a "hanukkiah". Each night, one more candle is added. The middle candle, called the "shamash", is used to light each of the other candles and it is lit every night. Therefore, on the first night of Hanukkah, two candles are lit (the shamash and the candle for the first night) and on the last night, there are nine lit candles.
Source:
The Hanukkah menorah has one light, one light for one night, the Hanukkah menorah has one light, so burn candle burn. The Hanukkah menorah has two lights, two lights for two nights, the Hanukkah menorah has two lights, so burn candles burn.
Source:
Those old-fashioned notions about giving children a few modest Hanukkah gifts have evolved into expectations of a nightly procession of toys, clothing and electronic goodies. And, in many of America's 2.5 million households with one Jewish parent and one Christian parent, the rites of the shopping mall have been blended to create the pop-culture reality called "Chrismukkah."
Source:
Symbols that are associated with the celebration of Hanukkah include the menorah (meh NOAR-uh), dreidels (DRAY-dels), potato latkes, and gelt. The menorah is a special candelabrum that holds nine candles. The middle candle is call the shammash (SHAHM-mahs) or server candle because it is used to light the other candles. It usually stands a little bit higher than the others. Candles are lit after sundown on each of the eight nights of Hanukkah. On the first night the server candle is lit as well as the first candle on the far right.
Source:
The celebration of Hanukkah includes a variety of religious and nonreligious customs. The most important of all is the lighting of the menorah, a candelabra with eight branches plus a holder for the shammash (“servant”) candle that is used to light the other eight candles. Olive oil was traditionally used for lighting the menorah, but it was replaced by candles, which are inserted in the menorah incrementally each night of the festival from right to left but are lit from left to right. A blessing is ... offered while the candles are lit each night. The menorah was originally kindled outside the home, but it was brought inside in ancient times to guard against offending neighbours.
Source:
MORE ABOUT
Hanukkah