How many candles are on a menorah?

The typical menorah used for Hanukkah has nine candles. A seven-candle menorah is used outside of Hanukkah as a symbol representing the menorah used in the ancient Temple of Judaism. The shamash, or middle candle, is used to light one candle a day during Hanukkah .

All candles of the menorah should be the same height. There is some debate whether the candles should be arranged in a straight line or in a semi-circle. The candles are lit in a specific order to indicate which day of Hanukkah it is. The menorah is traditionally lit right after nightfall and should remain lit for at least 30 minutes.