JUNO BEACH — Hundreds of people danced, sang and lit sparklers as they watched candles flicker on a sand-sculpted menorah ... before the candle lighting on Thursday, Dec. 26. “Under the vast canopy of the dark sky, we kindle the Hanukkah lights ...

The first night of the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah is underway. On the first night of Hanukkah, one candle is lit from the eight candle menorah and there is a story behind this. The holiday of Hanukkah celebrates the victory over the Syrian Greeks and the light of the menorah that burned for eight days with just a little bit of oil.

The Dec. 26 ceremony marked the return of the sand-sculpted menorah to Juno Beach one year after vandals destroyed a similar one.

A sand-sculpted menorah will return to the sands near the Juno Beach Pier. There will be a ceremony tonight at 5 p.m. to light its candles.