You place the Hanukkah candles in one direction and you light them in the opposite direction:

  • Facing the menorah, you place the candles from right to left (first night’s candle goes on the far right, then you add each new night to its left).
  • When actually lighting, you light from left to right , always starting with the newest (left‑most) candle first , then the others moving toward the right.
  • You use the shamash (helper candle) to light the others, and then return the shamash to its spot so it stays burning.

So in one line: fill the menorah right → left, light it left → right.