Things You'll Need:
- Songs
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Step 1
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's life, are lit. Some people add an extra candle for good luck.
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Step 2
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.
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Step 3
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 mitzvah boy himself.
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Step 4
Choose the music for the ceremony. You can have either a song played for every candle or a few different songs that represent certain themes.
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Step 5
Consider making a donation for each candle lit, in honor of the person lighting the candle.
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Step 1
Think about how you would like to write the poem. Rhyming is a popular option.
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Step 2
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.
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Step 3
Include important and funny details about each person included in the ceremony.
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Step 4
Consider hiring a professional speech writer. Provide him or her with pertinent information about each family member and allow him or her to capture your descriptions in a well-written poem.
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Step 1
Beat stress and nerves by reading the poem from a printed sheet instead of memory.
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Step 2
Rehearse the poem a few times to make sure you perform it smoothly on the day of the event.
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Step 3
Stand up straight, speak clearly and perform from the heart, allowing your guests to get the true feeling behind the ceremony.
Comments
heymannyc said
on 5/17/2008 jill - the poem lady here. I think the above advice is a great place to start. When people get frustrated, they come to me and I help put the pieces together into a wonderful candlelighting ceremony poem. Check out my work at http://thepoemlady.com
Here is a little sample:
Aunt Beth sells real estate and sits on the School Board
Uncle Bob made me orthotics and for that deserves an award
Lauren and Bob are so much fun, we always have a ball
Josh, I always wonder, how did you ever get so tall
Having you all here to celebrate is what makes our family thrive
That's why I want you all to light candle number five
jill -the poem lady