Hanukkah is the Jewish festival of lights. Every year, generally in mid- to late-December in accord to the Gregorian calendar, on 25th day of Kislev the Jews all around the world celebrate the holiday of Hanukkah which is the carnival of dedication that is again ideally symbolized by the lighting of the candles. Hanukkah and the Hanukkah candelabra have therefore a deep seated relation which is complemented with the lighting of each candle every day through eight consecutive days.
To celebrate Hanukkah as an accolade to the legendary victory of the Maccabees over the Hellenistic Syrians in a revolt that took place around 165 BCE a special 9 branched Hanukkah candelabra is used with eight branches symbolizing the 8 days when the oil kept burning. The typical structure of the Hanukkah Candelabra is such so that the ninth branch known as the Shamash can be positioned above the other eight.
On the first day the Shamash is lit and then one after another, other eight candles are lit. Quite ideally therefore the Hanukkah Candelabra has become not only a ritualistic symbol of the festival but also an aspect of immense aesthetic value to make the fiesta of lights even more radiant and beaming.
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