CAVEAT: I am not a rabbi and I do not play one on tv.
We are rapidly approaching Hanukah - also Chanukah, but assuredly חנוכה.
My Moroccan sedurs - וזרח השמש and אבותנו - tell me to say
before starting ארוממך.
The place where I make minyan uses a Ben Ish Hai sedur. This sedur specifically states NOT to include the Mizmor Shir Hanukat HaBiet for David even during Hanukah.
Like Popeye, "I yam what I yam" - stubborn and curious or perhaps curious and stubborn - so I started pulling down the sundry sedurs on the shelves in the synagogue. There are a variety.
The result: Mixed bag.
IN GENERAL, Mizrachi sedurs; those from Iran, Iraq, Syria, omitted the phrase. Ashkenazi sedurs tend to include the phase every time the song (mizmor) is recited. Because North African Sefardim are peaceful people willing to compromise, the phrase is recited only during Hanukah.
Chabad's תהלת השם includes it with each occurrence. Likewise the Ashkenazi sedurs חיים ושלום, יצחק יאיר, and סדור שמחת יהושע.
On the Mizrachi side, sedurs קול יעקב (Syrian with English translation), עוד יוסף חי , ספרדי השלם, and עת רצון all omit the phrase.
What I don't know is WHY.
Psalm 30 clearly starts off with the phrase מזמור שיר-חנובת הבית לדוד
Psalm 100 includes (מזמור (לתודה.
Rarely are things done sans some reason, even a far-fetched reason.
According to Hakham Yosef Messas, ע''ה, writing in הוד יוסף חי, the reason we add/include מזמור שיר-חנובת הבית לדוד is because adding the opening line enhances awareness of the miracle of Hanukah
A "word" about the blessing before lighting the hanukiah (Hanukah menorah).
According to R. Ovadia Yosef, ע''ה, the blessing is:
להדליק נר חנוכה. The North African tradition, according to דברי שלום ואמת is to add the word של in להדליק נר של חנוכה.
A few additional Hanukah traditions from North Africa from the book ילקות שמ''ש:
Hanukiah lighting time: When stars appear; but, if it's impossible to light the wicks as soon as the stars appear, they may be lit until the morning with the blessing. The hanukiah should not be lit before the stars appear; HOWEVER, the wicks MUST be lit before the Shabat candles, but AFTER evening services on Motzi Shabat. (See How long must the flame last?)
Light first or evening prayers? The Hanukiah wicks may be lit before evening prayers.
Blessings first, then kindle the wick: All the relevant blessings are recited before the first wick is lit. On the first night, the blessings are:
צונן להדליק נר של חנועה
(that commanded us to light the Hanukah wicks))
שעשה נסים לאבותנו
(Who performed miracles for our fathers)
שנחיינו
(that brought us to this time)
שנחיינו is said the first night only.
One hanukiah or many? In most Sefardi and Mizrachi homes, only the father lights the hanukiah; all others are included in the ceremony. This includes a son who, although having his own residence "takes his meals" at his father's house. Many Ashkenazim have the tradition that everyone in the family lights their own hanukiah.
Don't mix and match: Either EVOO (extra virgin olive oil) or candles may be used for the Hanukah lights, however, they may not be mixed; either all candles or all oil. I have heard that some authorities are allowing electronic hanukiahs in areas (hospitals, motels, etc.) where flames are forbidden.
How long must the flame last? At least 30 minutes; longer is better. On erev Shabat (Friday night) the candles must last 30 minutes after the stars come out which means the wicks should burn 48 minutes are more - Shabat candles normally are lit at least 18 minutes before kabalat (accepting) Shabat - add 18 to 30 and by my math that's 48 minutes.
