Ocho Kandelikas

"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. π„‡
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. π„‡
Refrain

𝄆 Los pastelikos vo kumer,
kon almendrikas y la myel. π„‡
Refrain

Spanish
𝄆 JanucΓ‘ linda estΓ‘ aquΓ­,
ocho candelas para mi. π„‡
 
O – Una candelita,
dos candelitas,
tres candelitas,
cuatro candelitas,
cinco candelitas,
seis candelitas,
siete candelitas,
ocho candelas para mi.

𝄆 Muchas fiestas van hacer,
con alegrΓ­as y placer. π„‡
 

𝄆 Los pastelitos voy a comer,
con almendritas y miel. π„‡

 
𝄆 Beautiful Hanukkah is here,
eight candles for me. π„‡
 
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. π„‡
 

𝄆 Little pastries to eat,
with little almonds and honey. π„‡

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:

References

  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.