Best Hanukkah Candles to Buy in 2021

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west elm menorah candles — Courtesy of West Elm

The Hanukkah season celebrates a miracle of light. When the one day's supply of oil continued to light the menorah candles in the Second Temple, it was a welcome sign to the people who had fought and won against their oppressors. Origins for the story of Hanukkah can be found in the books of Maccabees I and II, which retells the captivity of the Israelites under the rule of the Syrian-Greek king Antiochus IV Epiphanes. Epiphanes wanted to erase their identities and their religious beliefs, but a family by the name of Maccabee led a revolution to reclaim the Temple and free Jerusalem from the Greek-Syrians. Hanukkah, which means "dedication," developed from this story. Because of the importance of the candles in the Temple, the eight-day celebration of Hanukkah is also referred to as the Festival of Lights.

A menorah has four branches on each side with one shammash candle in the center, which is used to kindle the others, one by one, on each passing night. While the menorah lighting at your synagogue is a great opportunity to gather with friends, family, and the local community (especially after a year apart), you can also celebrate Hanukkah at home with your own candle lighting rituals. And once you have your menorah, you will need a set of candles to bring the Festive of Lights to life. For your family's celebration, a traditional set of 45 white tapers—such as the one pictured here from West Elm ($22, westelm.com)—will serve you well.

The best candles to include in your menorah are of the tapered variety, but you don't necessarily have to stick to traditional holiday colors of blue and silver. The delicate, elongated taper is designed to fit most menorahs, at 3/8 to 1/2 inch in diameter—and its shape is right for so many occasions. But during Hanukkah, at nightfall, Jewish families everywhere will begin the eight-day observance by lighting candles, singing songs, showering their children with gifts, and feasting on potato latkes.

How to Make Your Candles Last Longer

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Via Maris

Bring a modern touch to your menorah with these lower-drip paraffin wax candles in a dusty desert hue.

Shop Now: Via Maris Hanukkah Candles in Terra-Cotta, $60, westelm.com.

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Jewish Museum Shop

Purchase these rainbow-inspired candles and support New York City's The Jewish Museum, one of the world's largest institutions dedicated to the exploring the scope and diversity of Jewish culture.

Shop Now: Jewish Museum Shop Pastel Colored Hanukkah Candles, $10, shop.thejewishmuseum.org.

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The Holiday Aisle

We love the spiral composition of these on-palette tapers, which were made by hand; they have a burn time of approximately one hour.

Shop Now: The Holiday Aisle Hand-Made Hanukkah Candle Set, $32.99 for 45, wayfair.com.

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Simon Pearce

Any heirloom menorah is only as beautiful as its candles. For a simple, yet elegant set, opt for Simon Pearce's. Each of the 45 ivory tapers are six inches tall, made in the United States, and pair nicely with one of his artisanal glass-blown menorahs.

Shop Now: Simon Pearce Ivory Menorah Candle Set, $40, simonpearce.com.

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Rite Lite

Try this contemporary set befitting the Festival of Lights. Each one of the tapers in this set are hand-dipped and hand-decorated in a myriad of winter-appropriate hues.

Shop Now: Rite Lite Premium Hanukkah Candles in Multicolor, $24, bloomingdales.com.

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Williams Sonoma

This set of a dozen slim tapers are hand-dipped by a San Francisco workshop specializing in Old World candle-making techniques. Formed of solid paraffin, the 1/2-inch diameter candles produce a beautifully consistent flame that burns without smoking or dripping.

Shop Now: Williams Sonoma Tiny Taper Candle Set in Rust, $14.95, williams-sonoma.com.

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CB2

You can never go wrong with simple white candles, and there's enough here for all eight nights of this celebration. Use them to cast a soft warm glow in your room, at the dinner table, or in a window-front.

Shop Now: CB2 White Menorah Candles, $14.95, cb2.com.

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Fredericks and Mae

These hand-dipped beeswax candles are delivered from an Orthodox candle maker in Greece. The cotton wicks consist of a bundle of fibers that are braided together.

Shop Now: Fredericks and Mae Braided Paraffin Candle Set, $52, garmentory.com.

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Creative Candles

Can't find hand-dipped candles that are virtually smokeless and dripless? This set of tapered candles is exactly what you need. You can choose from ivory, metallic silver, or pearl-sapphire for your menorah.

Shop Now: Creative Candles Hanukkah Taper Candles, in Metallic Silver, $60, creativecandles.com.

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Crate & Barrel

crate and barrel blue ombre menorah candles — Courtesy of Crate and Barrel

These hand-dipped candles, in two tones of blue and cream, have an intriguing rustic finish. The set will provide plenty of candlelight for all eight nights.

Shop Now: Crate & Barrel Blue Ombré Menorah Candles, $14.95, crateandbarrel.com.

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Rite Lite

The bottom half of each candle is a beautiful pastel color: blue, green, orange, pink and purple. They are also hand-dipped, petroleum free, and have a 100-percent cotton wick.

Shop Now: Rite Lite Hand-Dipped Beeswax Hanukkah Candles, in Multi-Color, $24.95, papersource.com.

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