What Is a Candleholder Ceremonial Term?

• Menorah

  The menorah is a seven-branched candelabrum which symbolizes the Jewish nation. The traditional design of six branches coming off a main stem holding a seventh light is described in Exodus 25:31-37.

• Hanukiah

  This is a special form of the menorah with nine lights--one for each of the eight nights of Hanukkah and a ninth from which the others are lit. Hanukkah commemorates the re-dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem after the Maccabean revolt in 164 BCE. This re-dedication included relighting the Temple menorah, but there was only enough consecrated olive oil to last one night. According to tradition, the oil miraculously burned for eight nights, long enough for more olive oil to be pressed and consecrated.

• Advent Ring

  The Advent ring is a circular candle holder, arranged in evergreen branches. It has five cups, usually holding four red candles and a white candle in the center. It is used to mark the four Sundays of Advent leading up to Christmas--the Christian celebration of the birth of Jesus--and Christmas Day. One red candle is lit on the Sunday nearest November 30, which is the first Sunday in Advent. One more red candle is lit each Saturday in December until Christmas Day, when the center white candle is lit. These are burned until the ceremony ends with the Feast of Epiphany on January 6.

• Kinara

  This seven-branched or seven-cupped candelabrum is used in the African-American celebration of Kwanzaa. The seven candles represent the Nguzo Saba, the Seven Principles of pan-African culture: umoja (unity), kujichagulia (self-determination), ujima (collective work and responsibility), ujamaa (cooperative economics), nia (purpose), kuumba (creativity) and imani (faith).

References & Resources

• Holidays on the Net: A Historical Perspective of Chanukah
• Jewish-Art.org: The History of the Menorah
• The Official Kwanzaa Web Site: Nguzo Saba (The Seven Principles)
• Woodlands Junior School: Advent - Christian Festival