A Beginner's Guide to Hanukkah
It's a Minor, Festive Holiday, Not the "Jewish Christmas"
Dec 17, 2008
Many people are perplexed about the holiday of Hanukkah, mistakenly regarding it as the “Jewish Christmas.” Hannukah and Christmas do have some similarities: both holidays include traditional songs, festive meals, family gatherings and gift giving. This year, Hanukkah and Christmas even coincide: Hanukkah begins the evening of Sunday, Dec. 21, and continues eight days, including on Christmas.
Holidays are Completely DifferentEven if this year both Jews and Christians will open gifts and enjoy holiday foods on December 25, the two holidays remain completely unrelated, both in theme and in significance.
Christmas, celebrating the birth of Jesus, is critical to the development of Christianity. Hanukkah, however, does not set the foundation for Judaism. Instead, Hanukkah celebrates a historical event. It's considered a minor holiday in the Jewish faith, but one that has gotten grander in scope as Jews have become more assimiliated into American society.
A Story of Oppression, Revolt
The story of Hanukkah is a triumph of the oppressed over the oppressor. According to The Jewish Virtual Library, after Alexander the Great conquered Syria, Egypt and Judea, Jews were allowed to practice their faith in peace until the arrival of a successor of Alexander, Antiochus IV. Antiochus oppressed the Jews, banning their religion and desecrating their Temple. But a group of Jews united to rebel and to fight back. Ultimately, they succeeded. After their victory, in 165 B.C., the Jews needed to rededicate the Temple. To do this they needed to relight the Temple’s menorah, or candelabrum, which was supposed to burn throughout the night, every night. According to the story, there was only enough oil to last one night. Miraculously, however, the oil lasted for eight nights, until new supplies could be brought in.
Customs and Traditions
Many families celebrate Hanukkah by lighting a menorah, or Hanukiah, for eight nights. The menorah features eight candles, with the ninth candle used to light the other candles. The first night one candle is lit, the second night, two candles, and so forth until until all eight nights are celebrated. Though it is not required, many Jews follow the candle lighting with the giving of either money, called gelt, or gifts.
Families also celebrate by having Hanukkah parties or dinners. At these celebrations, foods made with oil are traditionally served, to commemorate the oil that lasted eight days. The foods include latkes, or potato pancakes fried in oil and jelly doughnuts. Sugar cookies cut in Hanukkah shapes also may be served. Traditional songs celebrate the bravery of the ancient Jewish rebels and their leader, Judah Maccabee, Hanukkah candles and the dreidel, a spinning top game played at Hanukkah.
Hanukkah, then, is a wonderful, happy time for Jews and those who share in their holiday, whether Jewish or not. But Hanukkah is not the "Jewish Christmas," nor does it pretend to be. The two holidays add sparkle and light to cold, dark winter nights – but they do so separately.
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