candle question

[yielded and still]

Shalom!

I went to the flea market today, and stumbled across two candle holders from Israel. They each hold three candles. One is very plain, but the other has
tav-bet-shin
shin-dalet-koof
in big letters right in the middle of the front of it. I believe this is Shabbat Kiddush. My question is, why three candles? Two would be for Shabbat, seven for the Biblical menorah, nine for Chanukah - but three? A Christian trinity Jewish candle holder? A unity candle holder? This is probably a dumb question, but a search on Google did not reveal the answer.
Toda Raba!

Julie

 

[Henaynei]

Shalom!

I went to the flea market today, and stumbled across two candle holders from Israel. They each hold three candles. One is very plain, but the other has
tav-bet-shin
shin-dalet-koof
in big letters right in the middle of the front of it. I believe this is Shabbat Kiddush. My question is, why three candles? Two would be for Shabbat, seven for the Biblical menorah, nine for Chanukah - but three? A Christian trinity Jewish candle holder? A unity candle holder? This is probably a dumb question, but a search on Google did not reveal the answer.
Toda Raba!

Julie

Traditionally any number of candles, two or more is acceptable for Shabbat. Traditional homes often light a candle for each member of the family. The two for the couple and then additional ones for the children as they come along. But be advised, once you have increased the honor of Shabbat by lighting some number more than 2 it is forbidden to decrease the honor of Shabbat by decreasing the number of candles you light on Shabbat.

Your friendly "Kosher Hotline" LOL

 

[JewishHeart]

for each member of the family is correct