Entertaining Bar Bat Mitzvah Candle lighting Ceremonies

One of the most important aspects of a Bar or Bat Bitzvah is celebrating with family and friends. A Bar/Bat Mitzvah candle-lighting ceremony is a wonderful way for the Bar Mitzvah boy or Bat Mitzvah girl to recognize and honor the important people in their lives. At M I T Z V A H  C E L E B R A T I O N S , we assure that all the sound reinforcement for invitations and recitations will be clear, and that all musical accompaniment will be well-cued and perfectly timed.

Step One
Decide on the number of candles you would like to light. Traditionally, 13 or 14 candles, one for each year of the Bar Mitzvah boy or Bat Mitzvah girl’s life, are lit. Some people add an extra candle for good luck.

Step Two
Select the people you’re going to invite to light a candle. Close family members and friends are generally chosen. Some people also light a special candle in memory of deceased relatives, for those who couldn’t attend the Bar Mitzvah or for out-of-town guests who made a special trip.

Step Three
Choose the order in which you will call people. The typical order is: grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, older relatives, younger relatives, family friends, the child’s friends, siblings, parents and the Bar/Bat Mitzvah honoree.

Step Four
Choose the music for the ceremony—a different selection for each person or set of people lighting the candles.

Write a Poem for the Ceremony

Step One
Think about how you would like to write the poem. Rhyming is a popular option.

Step Two

Break the poem up into segments, each featuring a few lines about the special people who will be lighting candles. Alternatively, you could write a longer poem to be read at the beginning of the ceremony, mentioning each special person or group.

Step Three
Include important and funny details about each person included in the ceremony.

Perform the Ceremony Smoothly

Step One
Beat stress and nerves by reading the poem from a printed sheet instead of memory.

Step Two
Rehearse the poem a few times to make sure you perform it smoothly on the day of the event.

Step Three
Stand up straight, speak clearly and perform from the heart, allowing your guests to get the true feeling behind the ceremony.