"Ocho Kandelikas" (lit. 'Eight Little Candles') is a 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.
The song has been recorded and performed by:
- Sarah Aroeste, an American singer and composer on the album Hanuká[3]
 - Voice of the Turtle (appearing on their CD: Circle of Fire; Boston 1986)
 - Erran Baron Cohen
 - Portland-based lounge orchestra Pink Martini
 - Multilingual rock group Hip Hop Hoodios
 - London-based jazz flamenco group Los Desterrados
 - Female Acappella ensemble Vocolot
 - Chazzan Alberto Mizrahi
 - Yasmin Levy, an Israeli singer-songwriter of Ladino music
 - Idina Menzel,[4] an American actress, performer, singer and songwriter
 - Bella Ríos, Cuban-Canadian musician, singer, and songwriter.
 
Lyrics
| Ladino (transliterated) | English | Español | 
|---|---|---|
| Hanukka linda sta aki, 
 ocho kandelas para mi. (×2)  | 
Beautiful Hanukkah is here,
 eight candles for me. (×2)  | 
Janucá linda está aquí,
 ocho candelas para mi. (×2)  | 
| O — Una kandelika, dos kandelikas, 
 trez kandelikas, kuatro kandelikas sintyu kandelikas, sesh kandelikas, siete kandelikas, ocho kandelas para mi.  | 
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.  | 
Una candelita, dos candelitas,
 tres candelitas, cuatro candelitas, cinco candelitas, seis candelitas, siete candelitas, ocho candelas para mi.  | 
| Muchas fiestas vo fazer, 
 kon alegriyas y plazer. (×2)  | 
Many parties to have,
 with happiness and pleasure. (×2)  | 
Muchas fiestas van hacer,
 con alegrías y placer. (×2)  | 
| Los pastelikos vo kumer, 
 kon almendrikas y la myel. (×2)  | 
Little pastries to eat,
 with little almonds and honey. (×2)  | 
Los pastelitos voy a comer,
 con almendritas y miel. (×2)  | 
References
- ↑ "Tablet Mag - Ocho Kandelikas". Retrieved 2011-03-15.
 - ↑ "Jewish Virtual Library - Sephardim". Retrieved 2011-03-15.
 - ↑ "The First Ever All-Ladino Hanukkah Album Is Here". 11 November 2021. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
 - ↑ "Idina Menzel - Official Site". Retrieved 1 November 2019.