# Are people really this clueless about Hanukah? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 7, 2012, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-people-really-this-clueless-about-hanukah/643334 "2012-12-07T19:40:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2012, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-people-really-this-clueless-about-hanukah/643334/1 "2012-12-07T19:40:13Z")
Last night, about 6pm, Walgreens: Me: Excuse me, do you have Hanukah candles? Worker: What? Me: Do you have Hanukah candles? Worker: Candles? Aisle 6. Me: Those are regular candles. I want Hanukah candles. Worker: šŸ˜• Me: Hanukah is a Jewish holiday. Worker: Ah, holiday candles! Right this way! Worker: Here you are! Me: Thanks, but those are Christmas candles. Worker: šŸ˜• Me: Hanukah candles are smaller. Worker: How about these? Me: Too small. Those are birthday candles. Worker: Umā€¦ Let me get a manager. Ten minutes pass as I check out various ā€œmajor awardā€ lamps. Manager: Sir, may I help you? Me: Hanukah candles? Manager: Right this way, sir. (Manager comes through like a champ.) Clerk: May I help you, sir? Me: Just these. Clerk tries to scan them. They donā€™t scan. She picks up the phone. Clerk: Can I get a price onā€¦ Chanukah candles? Me: Hanuka. Clerk: Chanuka. Me: Hanuka. Clerk: Chanuka. Me: Itā€™s pronounced Hanukah. Clerk: :dubious: It says ā€˜Chanuka.ā€™ Me: True. But itā€™s pronounced ā€˜Hanukah.ā€™ Lady in line behind me: Itā€™s Hanukah. Clerk: Then how come itā€™s spelled Chanukah? :dubious: Me: Those crazy Jews, huh? General discussion followed, including why you burn two on the first night instead of one. Clerk: Thatā€™s so cool! So, likeā€¦ You make a wish, and if you blow out all the candles, you get, like, a present or whatever? ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2012, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-people-really-this-clueless-about-hanukah/643334/2 "2012-12-07T19:44:35Z")
Minimum wage clerk at a chain store doesnā€™t know about other religions. Film at eleven. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2012, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-people-really-this-clueless-about-hanukah/643334/3 "2012-12-07T19:47:52Z")
It doesnā€™t make it any less amusing. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2012, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-people-really-this-clueless-about-hanukah/643334/4 "2012-12-07T19:48:57Z")
Are people in general? No. Are some people? Definitely. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2012, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-people-really-this-clueless-about-hanukah/643334/5 "2012-12-07T19:52:12Z")
Gotta admit I didnā€™t know the menorah required special candles either. I hadnā€™t thought about it much but would have assumed they were regular, white taper candles. ---
**Author:** ![sciurophobic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@sciurophobic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sciurophobic)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2012, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-people-really-this-clueless-about-hanukah/643334/6 "2012-12-07T19:52:12Z")
Thatā€™s nothing. Try asking where the yahrzeit candles are. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2012, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-people-really-this-clueless-about-hanukah/643334/7 "2012-12-07T19:55:45Z")
People shop shop at Walgreens?! ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2012, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-people-really-this-clueless-about-hanukah/643334/8 "2012-12-07T19:56:47Z")
I didnā€™t know a menorah required certain candles. For that matter, thereā€™s a lot about Christmas I donā€™t know, or even care to know, and my family is Christian, though Iā€™m not. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2012, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-people-really-this-clueless-about-hanukah/643334/9 "2012-12-07T19:57:57Z")
> [@sciurophobic](#): > > Thatā€™s nothing. Try asking where the yahrzeit candles are. Are those the ones that you make a wish, blow them out, and shout ā€œYahtzee!ā€? ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2012, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-people-really-this-clueless-about-hanukah/643334/10 "2012-12-07T20:00:52Z")
> [@Ephemera](#): > > I didnā€™t know a menorah required certain candles. I have to admit that until about 15 years ago I didnā€™t, either. So I get it. Itā€™s just weird to go into a store where theyā€™re sold, and the clerks donā€™t even know they sell them. Weird and amusing. Forget about trying buy them at a convenience store. ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2012, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-people-really-this-clueless-about-hanukah/643334/11 "2012-12-07T20:03:24Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Gotta admit I didnā€™t know the menorah required special candles either. I hadnā€™t thought about it much but would have assumed they were regular, white taper candles. No. Youā€™re supposed to let the candles in the menorah burn until they burn out on their own. That would take hours with regular taper candles. Also, the candle holders in most menorahs Iā€™ve seen are way too small for regular candles. ---
**Author:** ![sachertorte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sachertorte/32/3727_2.png) [@sachertorte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sachertorte)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2012, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-people-really-this-clueless-about-hanukah/643334/12 "2012-12-07T20:06:34Z")
I always thought Hanukah candles we no different except for the fact that they were sold in some odd number so that you have exactly the right number of candles for all nights. Having to buy in ā€˜standardā€™ candle numbers would leave left over candles, which is wasteful. Are they special in some other way? ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2012, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-people-really-this-clueless-about-hanukah/643334/13 "2012-12-07T20:06:45Z")
[Go to Balducciā€™s and theyā€™ll sell you ham for Hanukkah.](http://www.snopes.com/photos/signs/hanukkah.asp) (Yes, I know, Reform. A Jewish couple I know has a really good pork chop recipe. Itā€™s still funny to imagine a Hanukkah Ham fresh from the oven.) ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2012, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-people-really-this-clueless-about-hanukah/643334/14 "2012-12-07T20:09:18Z")
Hanukkah candles make the best candles to hand around at Pagan rituals for people to hold and make the Circle look pretty. Perfect size to reduce the people-setting-each-other-on-fire risk. šŸ™‚ ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2012, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-people-really-this-clueless-about-hanukah/643334/15 "2012-12-07T20:11:48Z")
I went to a restaurant the other day and ordered a cocktail off their list of 6 or 7 recommended mixed drinks and got one of the blankest looks Iā€™ve ever seen from the waiter. ā€œWhat on earth is that?ā€ ā€œDunno, but itā€™s on your menu and it sounds delicious.ā€ ---
**Author:** ![Haunted\_Pasta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/94ad74/32.png) [@Haunted\_Pasta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Haunted_Pasta)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2012, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-people-really-this-clueless-about-hanukah/643334/16 "2012-12-07T20:13:25Z")
I hope she was at least able to correctly place the emphasis on the second syllable (the one with the long ā€œuā€.) ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2012, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-people-really-this-clueless-about-hanukah/643334/17 "2012-12-07T20:18:17Z")
Okay so where were the Hanukah candles if they werenā€™t in the holiday candle isle? Does Walgreens have a Jewish candle section? I was just reading about Hanukah menorahs the other day. Do the candles have to stay lit once lit? What if they blow out? I figured any olā€™ candle would do, as long as you place & light them in the right order. Right to left then left to right. Right? ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2012, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-people-really-this-clueless-about-hanukah/643334/18 "2012-12-07T20:19:12Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > I went to a restaurant the other day and ordered a cocktail off their list of 6 or 7 recommended mixed drinks and got one of the blankest looks Iā€™ve ever seen from the waiter. ā€œWhat on earth is that?ā€ ā€œDunno, but itā€™s on your menu and it sounds delicious.ā€ I regularly go to a restaurant where one of their listed beers is a nut brown ale. Almost without exception, the waitrons confidently declared that they donā€™t carry any such thing. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2012, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-people-really-this-clueless-about-hanukah/643334/19 "2012-12-07T20:23:01Z")
> [@sachertorte](#): > > I always thought Hanukah candles we no different except for the fact that they were sold in some odd number so that you have exactly the right number of candles for all nights. Having to buy in ā€˜standardā€™ candle numbers would leave left over candles, which is wasteful. > > Are they special in some other way? They do come in packs of 44, though sometimes Iā€™ve seen them in 45. Thereā€™s a spare, I guess. The diameter is smaller so that they fit the holders ā€“ Iā€™m pretty sure that thereā€™s a standard size, but Iā€™ve seen some menoras that hold regular sized candles. Thereā€™s a lot a variation in design, and some menoras are quite beautiful and creatively designed. They are also a bit shorter and burn down in about an hour. Iā€™ve had some that last longer. Sometimes they come in all sort of festive colors, but blue and white seem to be favored colors. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2012, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-people-really-this-clueless-about-hanukah/643334/20 "2012-12-07T20:26:25Z")
> [@sachertorte](#): > > I always thought Hanukah candles we no different except for the fact that they were sold in some odd number so that you have exactly the right number of candles for all nights. Having to buy in ā€˜standardā€™ candle numbers would leave left over candles, which is wasteful. > > Are they special in some other way? No, you are right that they are packaged so you will have the right number of candles for a complete Hanukah observance. Hereā€™s the math question - how many candles do you need? Remember, you start with one, and add another each of the 8 crazy nights. Plus one shamus (the one used to light the others) each night (Jews who have purchased said packages exempt from answering). Anyone? Anyone? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-people-really-this-clueless-about-hanukah/643334.md?page=2)