Hanukkah party checklist: candles, the flame, the game, and when the frying has to stop

Hanukkah 2026 starts at sundown Friday, December 4, and ends at nightfall December 12. One menorah needs 44 lights, shamash included. On that Friday, light the menorah before the Shabbat candles and finish cooking first. Keep an open flame at least 12 inches from anything that can burn, and do not leave it. The fry clock is on the dinner page.

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Candles for the count, and a light when the table is crowded

Both listings were opened on Amazon on November 8, 2026, and the featured offer was in stock. A 44-count box is one menorah. An electric menorah is a party light, not a ruling on the commandment.

1. Rite Lite Hanukkah candles, blue and white, 45 packOur pick

   My Jewish Learning's total is 44, shamash included. This box says 45, which is that count plus one spare. The listing also says the candles fit most menorahs. It does not settle a Friday night that needs a longer burn.

   Listing says:

   Rite Lite Hanukkah candles, 45 pack, blue and white, the page we opened. The title says dripless, handcrafted wax, and that they fit standard menorahs. A bullet says 45 candles are enough for all eight nights, that they are sized for most menorahs, and that burn time is approximately one hour. Another bullet says the candles meet traditional requirements for Chanukah candles. That is the listing's sentence, not a ruling. Item weight 10.4 ounces. Color blue and white. Manufacturer Rite Lite LTD. Number of items on the product information is 1, meaning the box. In stock.

   Look for:

   45 is this box. A 44-count box we opened the same day had almost no bullets and a thin review count, so it is not a button here. Approximately one hour is not a promise that December 4 is covered. The dates guide is the Friday fuel rule.

   Best for:

   A host lighting one wax menorah who wants the eight-night count in one box.

   Skip:

   if the household uses oil. Those cups are on the adults gift page, and the count is still 44 per menorah. Skip if you are outfitting three menorahs.

   Check price on Amazon

2. The Dreidel Company LED electric menorah

   USFA says 12 inches from anything that can burn, and never unattended. A crowded kids table often cannot keep that distance. This listing is an LED menorah you advance with a button. Chabad still describes oil or wax as the lighting. This is not a claim that a battery fulfills it.

   Listing says:

   The Dreidel Company store, the page we opened: traditional LED electric menorah, title spells metallic with an extra t. Bullets say permanent flame-shaped LED bulbs, a button to advance to the next day, 13 inches high by 11 inches wide by 3.5 inches deep, and power from 3 AA batteries or the included USB cable. In stock.

   Look for:

   Thirteen inches high will not fit every windowsill. The bulbs are not replaceable candles. It does not drip, and it also does not satisfy a guest who came to see oil burn. Say what it is when you put it out.

   Best for:

   A party room, a kids table, or a dorm where an open flame is the wrong object.

   Skip:

   as a replacement for the household's own lighting if they use oil or wax. Skip if you needed a travel size. This one is 13 inches tall.

   Check price on Amazon