Ocho Kandelikas

Performed by the Singing Sergeants of the United States Air Force Band

Problems playing this file? See media help.

"Ocho Kandelikas" ("Eight Little Candles") is a Judaeo-Spanish (Ladino) song celebrating the holiday of Hanukkah, written by the Jewish-American composer Flory Jagoda in 1983.^[1]

The song is sung in Ladino, an Old Spanish-derived language traditionally associated with the Sephardic Jewish community.^[2] The song is often performed in an Argentine tango-rhythm with accompanying accordion and violins. The lyrics of the song describe a child's joy of lighting the candles on the menorah every night of Hanukkah.

Lyrics

Ladino (transliterated)
𝄆 Hanukka linda sta aki,
ocho kandelas para mi. 𝄇
Refrain:
O – Una kandelika,
dos kandelikas,
trez kandelikas,
kuatro kandelikas,
sintyu kandelikas,
sej kandelikas,
siete kandelikas,
ocho kandelas para mi

𝄆 Muchas fiestas vo fazer,
kon alegriyas y plazer. 𝄇
Refrain

𝄆 Los pastelikos vo kumer,
kon almendrikas y la myel. 𝄇
Refrain

Spanish
𝄆 Janucá linda está aquí,
ocho candelas para mi. 𝄇

O – Una candelita,
dos candelitas,
tres candelitas,
cuatro candelitas,
cinco candelitas,
seis candelitas,
siete candelitas,
ocho candelas para mi.

𝄆 Muchas fiestas van hacer,
con alegrías y placer. 𝄇

𝄆 Los pastelitos voy a comer,
con almendritas y miel. 𝄇

English
𝄆 Beautiful Hanukkah is here,
eight candles for me. 𝄇

O – One little candle,
two little candles,
three little candles,
four little candles,
five little candles,
six little candles,
seven little candles,
eight candles for me.

𝄆 Many parties to have,
with happiness and pleasure. 𝄇

𝄆 Little pastries to eat,
with little almonds and honey. 𝄇

Melody

$\header { tagline = ##f } \layout { indent = 0 \context { \Score \remove "Bar_number_engraver" } } global = { \key c \minor \numericTimeSignature \time 4/4 \autoBeamOff } chordNames = \chordmode { \global \set midiInstrument = "acoustic guitar (nylon)" \transpose c c, { \repeat volta 2 { c1:min\p | g:7 | s | } \alternative { { c:min } { c4:min s2. } } \repeat volta 4 { g1:7 | } \alternative { { c:min | } { s | } } c:min \bar "|." } } sopranoVoice = \relative c'' { \global \set midiInstrument = "clarinet" \repeat volta 2 { r8 g g g as g d es | f1 | r8 b b as g f d es | } \alternative { {c1 } { c4 r g'2 } } | \repeat volta 4 { g,8 g b d as'4 g | } \alternative { { c, es8 g as4 g | } { r8 g ges g as g d es | } } c1 \bar "|." } verse = \lyricmode { Ha -- nuk -- ka lin -- da sta a -- ki, o -- cho kan -- de -- las pa -- ra mi. mi. O << { u -- na kan -- de -- li -- ka, dos kan -- de -- li -- kas, } \new Lyrics \lyricmode { trez "_" kan -- de -- li -- kas, kuatro kan -- de -- li -- kas, } \new Lyrics \lyricmode { sin -- tyu kan -- de -- li --kas, sej kan -- de -- li --kas, } \new Lyrics \lyricmode { sie -- te kan -- de -- li -- kas, "" "" "" "" "" o -- cho kan -- de -- las pa -- ra mi. } >> } \score { << \new ChordNames \chordNames \new Staff \sopranoVoice \addlyrics \verse >> \layout { } } \score { \unfoldRepeats { << \chordNames \\ \sopranoVoice >> } \midi { \tempo 4=120 \context { \Score midiChannelMapping = #'instrument } \context { \Staff \remove "Staff_performer" } \context { \Voice \consists "Staff_performer" } } }$

Performances

The song has been recorded and performed by:

Sarah Aroeste, an American singer and composer, on her album: Hanuká^[3]
Erran Baron Cohen
Hip Hop Hoodíos, a multilingual rock group
Flory Jagoda, a Bosnian-born American musician and singer-songwriter
Yasmin Levy, an Israeli singer-songwriter of Ladino music
Pink Martini, a Portland-based lounge orchestra
Idina Menzel,^[4] an American actress, performer, singer and songwriter
Vocolot, a female a cappella ensemble
Voice of the Turtle, on their album Circle of Fire, Boston 1986
Diego's Umbrella, American Gypsy rock band, 2018

References

↑ "Ocho Kandelikas". Tablet. 11 December 2008. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
↑ "Jewish Virtual Library - Sephardim". Retrieved 15 March 2011.
↑ Hannah S. Pressman (11 November 2021). "The First Ever All-Ladino Hanukkah Album Is Here". Retrieved 21 January 2026.
↑ "Idina Menzel – Official Site". Retrieved 1 November 2019.^{[failed verification]}

This folk song–related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by adding missing information.

[1] "Ocho Kandelikas". Tablet. 11 December 2008. Retrieved 21 January 2026.

[2] "Jewish Virtual Library - Sephardim". Retrieved 15 March 2011.

[3] Hannah S. Pressman (11 November 2021). "The First Ever All-Ladino Hanukkah Album Is Here". Retrieved 21 January 2026.

[4] "Idina Menzel – Official Site". Retrieved 1 November 2019.^{[failed verification]}

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]