Homemade Hanukkah Candles

Last year when I saw this blog post on Flowing with My Ducklings on making Shabbat candles I thought that it would be fun for us to make our own Hanukkah candles. I ordered two 10 packs of 8" x 16" sheets of beeswax and wicks but I never got around to making the candles. While I was cleaning out my cabinets a few weeks ago I came across the wax so I decided that the girls and I would make some Hanukkah candles this year. You can buy individual sheets and 12 packs of beeswax sheets and wicks from this page at candlemakingsupplies.net (scroll down for the wicks).

FYI according to Jewish law candles must burn for 30 minutes. The 4 inch candles I made burned for 45 minutes. I also made candles that were a little bit thinner (4" by 1 1/2"candles) that also burned for 45 minutes and taller ones (5" by 2") that burned for an hour.

Supplies 

8" by 16" sheets of beeswax

Wicks cut to 4 3/4"

Sharp knife/craft knife

A surface to cut the wax on that won't be ruined by the knife 

Scissors to cut the wicks

Ruler

1. First cut each sheet into half length wise but do not separate the 2 pieces.

2. Cut the two halves into eight pieces that are 2" wide each. You will end up with sixteen 2" by 4" rectangles

Place a wick at the very bottom of the the 2" by 4"piece of wax and push it into the wax.

Tightly roll the candle up.

Voila!