A menorah is a special candelabra, a branched candleholder used in Jewish religious observance. The most familiar menorah has nine branches and is used during Hanukkah, the eight-day Jewish Festival of Lights that usually falls in December. Each night of Hanukkah, families light one more candle using the ninth candle (called the shamash, or helper candle), until all eight are glowing on the final night.

The Hanukkah menorah commemorates an ancient miracle: when Jewish people rededicated their temple in Jerusalem over 2,000 years ago, they found only enough oil to keep the temple's lamp burning for one day, but it is said to have lasted for eight days. Today, many families place their menorahs in windows where passersby can see the lights, turning each home into a beacon celebrating religious freedom and the persistence of hope.

The word menorah can also refer to the seven-branched candelabrum that stood in the ancient Temple in Jerusalem, which has become a symbol of Judaism itself. You'll see this seven-branched version on synagogues and Jewish organizations around the world. Whether seven-branched or nine-branched, a menorah represents light overcoming darkness, which is why its flames matter so much during the darkest time of year.