Although the mitzvah is applicable to both men and women, the merit and privilege of lighting the candles were given to the wife rather than the husband, since the wife is the Akeres Habayis and the one who spends the time taking care of the home. With her lighting she exempts her husband and family from fulfilling this mitzvah.

Customs vary as to the number of candles one lights. The predominant custom is to light one for each family member, with the wife lighting two after she gets married on account of the words "shomor" and "zochor" (and perhaps also because the husband and wife are two) and then at the birth of each child an additional candles is added. Others always light just two candles. There are other customs as well such as lighting seven or ten candles.

The candles need to be lit around 18 minutes before sunset. Under no circumstances may one light candles after sunset.
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