What do the 7 candles on a menorah represent?
The seven lamps allude to the branches of human knowledge, represented by the six lamps inclined inwards towards, and symbolically guided by, the light of God represented by the central lamp. The menorah also symbolizes the creation in seven days, with the center light representing the Sabbath.
Why do we light the menorah on Hanukkah?
A child lights a menorah with oil for Hanukkah. A menorah, the Hebrew word for lamp, has seven branches. It was originally used in the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem. With nine branches, it is lit each night to celebrate the miracle of oil lasting eight days.
What is the miracle of the menorah?
It goes like this: During a celebration of taking back the Jewish temple, oil that was supposed to last just one night ended up lasting eight. Therefore, it was a miracle and to celebrate, we light a menorah for eight nights and eat foods cooked in oil, like latkes and doughnuts.
What do the 8 nights of Hanukkah mean?
The eight-day Jewish celebration known as Hanukkah or Chanukah commemorates the rededication during the second century B.C. of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, where according to legend Jews had risen up against their Greek-Syrian oppressors in the Maccabean Revolt.
What color are menorah candles?
The color blue is also mentioned extensively throughout other religious texts, according to Chabad. Today’s Hanukkah decorations carry on the tradition of the holiday’s early American popularity, in that they look just like Christmas decorations, but they’re blue and white.
What is the symbolic color of hope?
Blue signifies the blue skies or the life-giving air and often signifies hope or good health. It is an alternate color for the season of Advent.
What color represents forgiveness?
Yellow roses: The rose is universally loved by all and is, depending on its color, representative of many qualities, including passion (red roses), purity (white roses) and friendship/forgiveness (yellow roses).