The Jewish tradition is that on the first night of Chanukah one
flame is lit, on the second night two, and so on until the
eighth night when eight flames are lit. Actually, the question
of whether to begin the lighting with one flame and proceed,
adding one each night, to eight on the final, the eighth, night
of Chanukah or do just the opposite, begin with eight and end
with one, was a matter of dispute. In fact, it was one of the
famous "machlokot," or disagreements, between two of the
greatest wise men of Israel, Hillel and Shammai, as recorded in
the Talmud, in Masechet Shabbat 21b. Hillel said that on the
first night we light one, on the second, two, and so on, till
eight on the eighth night. Shammai held the reverse opinion;
namely, on the first night, light eight lights, and proceed,
diminishing the number of lights by one each night, to just one
light on the final night of Chanukah. In the democratic spirit
of the Talmud, the question was voted upon by the colleagues of
Hillel and Shammai, and Hillel's