what is the importance of lighting the candles for the 8 days of hannak?

Answer 1

It represents that 8 days a temple lamp miraculously burned without oil.

Answer 2

When the Temple was taken back by the Maccabees the Israelites cleared out the idols that had been placed in it. After cleaning it and rededicating it they went to light the candlestick but did not have very much oil but the candlestick burned for eight days. Now they light a candle on the menorah each day as a remembrance of this miracle.

Answer 3

On the 25th of Kislev in the year 3622 from creation, the Maccabees liberated the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, after defeating the vastly more numerous and powerful armies of the Syrian-Greek king Antiochus IV, who had tried to forcefully uproot the beliefs and practices of Judaism from the people of Israel. The victorious Jews repaired, cleansed and rededicated the Temple to the service of G-d. But all the Temple's oil had been defiled by the pagan invaders; when the Jews sought to light the Temple's menorah (candelabra), they found only one small cruse of ritually pure olive oil. Miraculously, the one-day supply burned for eight days, until new, pure oil could be obtained. In commemoration, the Sages instituted the 8-day festival of Chanukah, on which lights are kindled nightly to recall and publicize the miracle

Answer 4

Light is the symbol of the Divine (god). In the Temple in Jerusalem there burned an eternal light - The "Ner Tamid" - and it was kept fueled and burning as a reminder that god is everywhere and forever. (Today, each Synagouge has a "ner Tamid").

When Judah Macabee led a rebellion against the asyrians and recliamed the Temple in Jerusalem, the Eternal Light had been extinguished. There was only enough oil to burn for approximately 1 day - so the lamp was re-lit and the temple was rededicated (chanukah means "re dedication").

A messenger was sent to bring back more oil. The flame of the Ner Tamid lasted for eight days until the messenger returned with more oil. That is the miracle of Chanukah (not to metion the small band of macabees that defeated the asyrians).

Today, Jews light one candle for each night of Chanukah to remember the miracle of chanukah. Each two prayers are said - one for the ligt (symbol of the divine) and one for the miracles god bring to us). On the first night, an additional prayer is read - a prayer said on the first night of all happy occasions that thanks god for providing the current happy time.

Answer 5

That is a Hanukkah ritual. The importance is in the performance of the ritual, not the actual action.