Which Holiday Uses 7 Candles?

During the week-long Kwanzaa celebration, seven candles are placed on a kinara (Swahili for candelabra), with three red candles on the left, three green candles on the right, and one black candle in the center. Every year, as the holiday approaches, people light candles in their homes, including Diwali lights, Hanukkah menorahs, Yule logs, Advent wreaths, and Kwanzaa menorahs. Remember that the biggest danger during the holiday is fire, and using candles to light sacred traditions and rituals increases that risk.

Diwali, also known as the Festival of Lights, is a five-day celebration that celebrates the victory of light over darkness and represents a time to make wishes come true for the coming year. On the night of Diwali, people dress up and light lamps or lamps and candles inside and outside their homes. Floating lamps are placed on water to represent blessings to Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity.

The celebration of Hanukkah revolves around the lighting of a nine-branched menorah, known as the Hanukkah menorah. An additional candle is added to the Hanukkah menorah after sunset on each of the eight days of the holiday. The ninth candle, known as the shamash ("helper"), is used to light the other candles. A blessing is often recited during this ceremony, and it is often displayed prominently in a window to remind others of the miracle of the Hanukkah festival.

During the week-long celebration of Kwanzaa, seven candles are placed in a kinara (Swahili for candelabra): three red candles on the left, three green candles on the right, and one black candle in the center. The seven candles represent the seven principles of Kwanzaa, and a new candle is lit in the kinara each day. First light the black candle in the center, then from left to right, light the newly lit candles according to the principle of the day. Thus, each day of Kwanzaa is dedicated to reflecting on one of the seven principles. Each candle also has a meaning: the black candle symbolizes the African people, the red candle symbolizes their struggle, and the green candle symbolizes the future and hope that their struggle brings.

Christmas also has its own candle traditions, such as the countdown of four Sundays before Christmas during the so-called Advent period, and the ancient Yule log, which in modern times has become a decorative candle holder on the table.

If you are lighting an open-flame candle during the holidays, never take your eyes off the lit candle. Before leaving the room, make sure the candle is completely extinguished and the wick is no longer glowing.

Do not let the candle burn completely. For safety, stop lighting the candle when there is 1/2 inch left in the container, or 2 inches left if using a pillar candle.
Place burning candles at least 3 inches apart. This is to prevent them from melting into each other or creating their own drafts that will prevent the candle from burning properly.

Extinguish candles if the flame is too high or flickers repeatedly. Allow candles to cool, trim the wick, and check for unwanted drafts before relighting.

Do not use candles as night lights or when you are about to fall asleep.

This season is an opportunity to appreciate the differences and similarities in festivals across cultures. When planning a family get-together, take the time to learn about others' traditions and be inspired by customs you may not have known before. Most importantly, always keep your family's safety in mind when lighting candles.