( CNN ) -- A giant menorah will light the sky above New York on Wednesday to mark the start of Hanukkah , a Jewish holiday celebrated for eight days and nights . Jews celebrate Hanukkah by lighting candles each night in a menorah , an eight-branch candelabra with a ninth , elevated branch known as a shamash . Organizers will light the first candle of what they called the world 's largest menorah at Central Park . Lighting of the menorah will be held at 5:30 p.m. daily through December 8 . The 32-foot high , gold-colored , 4,000 pound steel structure features genuine oil lamps , according to organizers . It has glass chimneys to protect the lights from strong winds . The menorah marks Hanukkah , the Jewish Festival of Lights that mostly falls in December . `` The menorah stands as a symbol of freedom and democracy , strength and inspiration , delivering a timely and poignant message to each person on an individual basis , '' said Rabbi Shmuel M. Butman , director Lubavitch Youth Organization . The shamash , which is lit first , is used to light the others candles each night of the holiday . The holiday of Hanukkah celebrates the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem after Syrians were chased out of the Holy Land . It also marks the eight days that a menorah burned with one day 's worth of oil . Celebrants exchange small gifts during Hanukkah . CNN 's Deborah Doft contributed to this report .
Some say it 's the world 's largest menorah . The menorah marks Hanukkah , the Jewish Festival of Lights . It mostly falls in July .