It may come as surprise those reading this article, but Hanukkah isn't really an important Jewish holiday. However, it is a fun holiday and, for me and many others, a holiday associated with many happy memories.
Hanukkah celebrates the re-dedication of the Jerusalem temple following its defilement by Syrian Greeks in 164 BCE. Since then, Hanukkah has become known as the Festival of Lights due to a miracle of a one-day supply of oil lasting a miraculous eight days and as the Feast of Dedication to celebrate God’s provision and protection.
Hanukkah is not even memtioned in Torah (to be expected because the Torah pre-dates Hanukkah) or anywhere else in the Hebrew Bible (a further indication that it was not considered an important holiday). Hanukkah (as the Feast of Dedication) is, however, mentioned in the New Testament (John 10:22).
The Hanukkah menorah (also known as a Hanukkiah) is lit around nightfall each of the eight nights of Hanukkah. As with all other Jewish rituals, the lighting of Hanukkah candles goes according to a specific order and has blessings that accompany it. On the first of Hanukkah’s eight nights, only two candles are placed in the Hanukkah menorah: the shammash, or “helper” candle, which has its own designated spot (usually in the center), and another candle. Each night, another candle is added so that on the eighth and final night of Hanukkah, nine candles (the shammash plus eight others) are lit.
The candles are placed in the menorah from right to left (just as Hebrew is written from right to left), but are lit from left to right. The shammash candle is always the first one lit, and is used to light the others, starting with the left-most one. (Think of it as lighting the candle representing the current night first.)
Before lighting the candles (but after placing them in the menorah), we recite blessings. Ont the first Night we recite all three blessings. On all other bights we recite only the first two blessings.