Hanukkah Candle Lighting

Gualala Arts’ “Winter Wonderland” celebration includes a special event for Hanukkah. On Sunday, December 18, Gualala Arts will open its doors to the community for a Menorah Candle Lighting. The lighting in the Foyer will take place at local sundown, which in Mendocino County, is expected at 5:22 p.m., and the lighting reflects the 18th as the first day of Hanukkah. Doors will open at 4:30 pm, and people may stay in the Foyer until 6 pm.

Candles and the candelabra have long replaced many oil lamps. Candles are integrated into most religions and their ceremonies, and the Menorah has a seven-branched structure. The most common have three branches coming out from each side of a central beam. The word Menorah comes from the same root of “light”, and the image of the seven candles is often a representation, a symbol of the Jewish religion.

Whether considered as the symbolic representation of the burning bush where Moses heard the voice of God thundering on Mount Horeb, or of our seven-day week (consistent with the Biblical creation-days of the universe) the symbol of the seven candles with one raised above the other six has become almost ubiquitous.

Please note that this First Night event, Sunday, December 18, is the only night open to the public. Sunday’s lighting will take place in Foyer.