"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.
The song is sung in Ladino, an Old Spanish-derived language traditionally associated with the Sephardic Jewish community. 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)
Refrain: O – Una kandelika, dos kandelikas, trez kandelikas, kuatro kandelikas, sintyu kandelikas, sej kandelikas, siete kandelikas, ocho kandelas para mi
Refrain
Refrain Spanish
O – Una candelita, dos candelitas, tres candelitas, cuatro candelitas, cinco candelitas, seis candelitas, siete candelitas, ocho candelas para mi.
English
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.
Melody
Performances
The song has been recorded and performed by: Sarah Aroeste, an American singer and composer, on her album: Hanuká 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, 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