A Hanukkah Tradition
      

       

     This year the Jewish celebration of Hanukkah begins on the evening of December 5th. It is a joyous celebration, a time for remembering the victory in 165 BC of the Maccabees over the Syrians and the rededication of the Temple.

     To commemorate the events, a Menorah is ceremoniously lit for 8 consecutive evenings. On the first night of Hanukkah the head candle is lit and used to light one candle, all candles are left to burn out, they are not blown out. On the second night of Hanukkah a new head candle is lit and used to light two new candles. Night three requires the lighting of three candles using the head candle. The ceremony continues each night with the number of candles used increasing by one each night. On the 8th or final night, the head candle is lit and used to light 8 candles.

     How many candles are needed to complete the ceremony for all 8 days of Hanukkah?





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