It is common to think of Hanukkah (also spelled Hannukah, Hanukkah, Hanukka, Chanukah, Chanukkah, and a whole host of other ways) as a sort of Jewish Christmas.
Hanukkah and Christmas are both celebrations that take place in the cold, dreary dregs of winter. Yet the holidays celebrate very different events and are unrelated. Also, whereas Christmas is one of the major holidays of the year for Christians, Hanukkah is a relatively minor holiday for Jews.
How Are Hanukkah and Christmas Different?
Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ, humankind’s savior in the Christian tradition. Nevertheless, December 25th is not the actual date of Jesus’ birth and was likely chosen to coincide with a traditional Roman festival or with the winter solstice.
Hanukkah commemorates the victory of the Jews over their oppressors and the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem in about 165 BCE. Hanukkah takes place over a period of eight days and nights beginning in late November or early December. The exact starting date of Hanukkah corresponds to the 25th day of Kislev, the third month of the Jewish calendar, a date which varies on the western calendar from year to year.
Why Is Hanukkah Sometimes Thought of as a Jewish Christmas?
Hanukkah has become erroneously associated with Christmas for a few reasons. The number one reason is that Hanukkah takes place at roughly the same time of year as Christmas. A second reason is that the custom of Christmas gift giving has also influenced Hanukkah tradition in some cases.
Some Jews have adopted gift giving into Hanukkah celebrations, though gift giving per se is not typically associated with Hanukkah.
What Is Hanukkah Really About?
Hanukkah celebrates the victory of the Jews over their enemies, but this is only part of the story. In other words, the significance of the Hanukkah holiday is deeper than a mere victory celebration.
During the rule of the Greco-Syrian king Antiochus IV Epiphanes, who controlled Judea (present-day Israel) and other lands, the Jews were heavily persecuted. Jews were not allowed to practice their religion, and they were forced to worship Greek gods. Many Jews were killed, and their Temple in Jerusalem was desecrated.
A Jew named Judah Maccabee was not happy with the treatment of Jews under the rule of Antiochus. He and his four brothers formed an army known as the Maccabees. They led a three-year uprising, employing guerilla war, to drive the Syrians out of Israel. The odds against the small Jewish group were great, but in the end they defeated the Syrians. The Jews reclaimed the Temple, removing Greek statues and symbols. They finished this job of cleaning up the Temple on the 25th day of the month of Kislev.
After the job of purifying the Temple was complete, Judah and his followers wanted to rededicate the temple by lighting an eternal light known as the N’er Tamid. This light is found in every Jewish place of worship. Once this light is lit, it should not be put out. The Maccabees, however, only found enough oil in the Temple to keep the light lit for one night. A miracle occurred, however, and the oil that should have lasted for only one night lasted for the eight days it took to prepare more oil.
Hanukkah Candles and the Festival of Lights
A Hanukkah Menorah, a branched candelabra, is the primary symbol of the Hanukkah holiday. The Menorah consists of nine Hanukkah candles. Eight candles represent the eight days of Hanukkah (the eight days that the oil burned), and the ninth candle, the Shamash, meaning “guard” or “servant,” is used to light the other candles.
During Hanukkah, the candles are lit one by one, from left to right, during each of the eight days of the holiday. For this reason, Hanukkah, which means “rededication,” an allusion to the rededication of the Temple, is also known as the Festival of Lights.
Hanukkah, a Holiday Celebrating the Survival of Judaism and Jewish Culture
Hanukkah commemorates the military victory of the Maccabees over the Syrians in Judea, modern-day Israel, but more fundamentally and importantly it is a celebration of the continuance of the Jewish way of life and religion.
Despite Hanukkah’s association with Christmas, the two holidays don’t have much in common other than when in the year they take place. The holidays celebrate two completely different events. Some Jews, however, as a result of the influence of the Christmas holiday, have incorporated gift giving into Hanukkah. Nonetheless, some may consider this ironic since Hanukkah, in one sense, celebrates non-assimilation of Jews into the mainstream culture.
Source:
The History of Hanukkah, history.com
Aimee Larsen Stoddard - Aimee is a professional writer/editor. She has a BA in English and is currently completing an MS in Theology.
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