A story in the Talmud (500 years after the Maccabean War) tells of a legendary miracle. After the war, When the Jews returned to rededicate the Ancient Temple, they found that there was only enough oil to keep the eternal lamp burning for 1 day. It would take 8 days to make more of this special oil. So they lit the lamp, and it miraculously burned for 8 days, giving them plenty of time to make more oil to keep the lamp burning.
Although this is just a legend, in modern times, we light candles to symbolize the miracle of the oil lasting 8 days.
Answer:The above answer is non-traditional. Our tradition is that the miracle of the oil did indeed occur and isn't just a legend. If it wasn't for the clear tradition of our Sages, Hanukkah would have been forgotten long ago.The Seleucids (Syrian-Greeks) under Antiochus Epiphanes (2nd century BCE), at the instigation of the Hellenizers, had forbidden various Torah-practices in Judea, such as Sabbath-observance and circumcision, rededicated the Temple to a Greek idol, and pressed the Jews to offer up idolatrous sacrifices. Despite being heavily outnumbered, the Hasmoneans (a family of religious Jews) fought to retake the Holy Temple, which had been seized by the Seleucids, and to enable the people to once again observe the Torah. The Hasmoneans (also called Maccabees) were miraculously victorious. When they reached the Temple grounds, they immediately reconsecrated it to God. As part of this action, they relit the Menorah (Exodus ch.25), which was fueled with olive oil. However, it soon became apparent that there was only sufficient oil to keep the candelabra burning for one single day - and it would take eight days to make and bring some more.
Miraculously, the menorah stayed lit for eight days (Talmud, Shabbat 21b), allowing enough time for new oil to be prepared and brought.
The significance of the miracle is that it demonstrated that God's presence still dwelt in the Holy Temple. This is what Hanukkah symbolizes: the closeness to God; and the avoidance of Hellenization (assimilation).
The Torah Sages instituted the festival of Hanukkah at that time (Talmud, Shabbat 21b), to publicize the miracle (Rashi commentary, ibid). This is why we light our Hanukkah-menorahs.
(The Hanukkah-menorah, or hanukkiyah, is a special form of the original seven-branched menorah. Our Hanukkah-menorahs have eight spaces for oil, or candles, to mark each of the eight days for which the oil lasted and a ninth to hold the shamash, a candle used to light the others.)
TThe Al-Hanisim prayer which we recite during Hanukkah centers around the Hasmoneans' victory and rededication of the Temple, while the candle-lighting commemorates the miracle of the oil.
Though the military victory is prominently mentioned in the prayers, it wouldn't have been celebrated if not for the miracle of the oil.
It should also be noted that the main goal for which the Maccabees fought was not political independence. They fought to enable the people to observe the Torah's commandments; as we say in the Al Hanisim prayer: "the Greeks sought to cause us to forget Your Torah and leave Your statutes."
The candles (or oil) of the menorah are lit with the shamash (the helper candle), which is positioned on the menorah either slightly higher or lower than the other candles but not on the same level as them.
The first candle was lit on the side closest to the right of the menorah.
Each day of Hanukkah, an additional candle is lit on the menorah.
A paschal candle is lit
Every day, we place the candles on the right side (so that the candle to the far left is lit only on the eighth night). The candles are lit from left to right, so that the newest candle is lit first. On the sixth night, the two holders on the left side of the menorah remain empty.
It's called a menorah, or a Hanukkah menorah. Israelis call it a Hanukkiah.
A lit candle in a window.
The menorah is the standard term for the 9-branched candle holder used on Hanukkah. Others call it a Chanukiah or Hanukkiyyah. Each night of Hanukkah, candles are lit to commemorate the miracle of Hanukkah. On the first night, one candle is lit (plus the helper candle used to light the others), ending with 8 candles on the 8th night.
Six, plus one shamash (helper-candle).
Last night (Sunday evening, December first 2013), five candles were lit (plus the extra shamash-candle).
The hanukkiah is a type of 'menorah' specially made just for Hanukkah. A menorah is a nine-branched candelabrum (candle holder) used and lit during the eight-day holiday of the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah.
a menorah is a candle holder. You can't eat on it.