"Ocho Kandelikas" ('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:
| 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) |