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Last night, the first night of Chanukah, my Chanukah candle decided to go out pretty quickly, for no obvious reason. I relit it, but should I have recited the blessings again?
In truth, according to the letter of the law, you didn’t have to relight the candle at all. Once you light the candle initially – and the wick, oil and environment were all suited for it to last 30 minutes after nightfall – you have fulfilled your obligation. It’s preferred to relight the candle anyway to publicize the miracle further, but a new blessing is not necessary.
On Friday evening when we light early (before lighting the Shabbat candles), there are opinions that if a candle went out (when it is not yet Shabbat for you) you are obligated to relight it – since the initial lighting was before the time of the obligation. Even in such a case we do not recite the blessings again (since it’s a matter of debate), but you should be even more careful to relight any extinguished candles. (Sources: Shulchan Aruch O.C. 673:2, Mishna Berurah 26-27.)
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