Do you know why Jews celebrate Hanukkah?

Question

First and foremost, Hanukkah is a historical, nationalist holiday. It commemorates the successful rebellion, in the second century B.C.E., of a clan of Jewish freedom fighters called the Maccabees. These warriors rose up against Antiochus, a Greco-Syrian monarch who ruled Israel with a hard hand, banning Jews from practicing their faith and pressuring them to convert to a Hellenic way of life. (It is told that his soldiers would even force-feed Jews pork, a kosher no-no.) Despite being greatly outnumbered, the Maccabees managed to recapture the Holy Temple, the premier site of ancient Judaism, from their oppressors. Hanukkah means dedication in Hebrew -- the holiday pays tribute to the dedication of a group of Jews who believed fervently in their right to religious and nationalist freedom.
Of course, there's also a religious aspect to Hanukkah. Also known as the "Festival of Lights," Hanukkah celebrates the miracle that occurred when the Maccabees reclaimed the Temple.

The sanctuary was a shambles, torn apart by the Hellenic forces. The fighters found only enough oil to light a lantern -- by which to read the Torah -- for one day. But the lantern blazed for eight full days. When Jews light the eight candles of the menorah on the eight nights of Hanukkah, they recite a prayer extolling God who "performed miracles for our ancestors in days of old." There is also a seasonal, even pagan, aspect to Hanukkah. Celebrated on the 25th day of the Jewish month of Kislev, during the darkest days of the year, the candle-lighting holiday is a warm, cozy ritual to banish the winter blahs. The focus of the holiday is not so much going to synagogue or reading certain scriptures, but rather staying at home with friends and family, eating, playing, and just spending time together.

So you can see that Hanukkah is not the "Jewish Christmas." Just thought you'd like to know.

Man...what does that website got to do with Hanukkah???

Mousy...it's not exactly like that. On Hanukkah, only children are supposed to receive presents and traditionally those presents are given each night after lighting the menorah and are usually what we call Hanukkah "gelt" which means money or coins. And it can also mean those yummy gold-wrapped chocolate coins.

Answer 1

This is the most excellent summation of what Hannukah is that I have ever seen - thank you very much for the lesson - I was wondering about this.

"That" website is probably somebody hacked the server on here.

Answer 2

You say "The focus of the holiday is not so much going to synagogue or reading certain scriptures, but rather staying at home with friends and family, eating, playing, and just spending time together."

To me, that is what makes it the Jewish Christmas - in fact, it is the one holiday in the jewish calendar (beside Purim maybe) where life and family are celebrated, rather than the primary focus be the tragedies in Jewish history, it seems. And even in that - why don't we go all out and really make it a festival of lights? Why don't we have special hanukkah strands of lights with blue, gold and white lights? Where are the giant lawn Menorahs and Happy Hanukkah signs? Why are there precious few Hanukkah songs?

I am not suggesting that we turn Judah Maccabee into Hanukkah Harry, but must we really take ourselves so seriously that we use our faith to remember our suffering more than to be lighthearted and celebrate the joy in life? I know many of us have felt like Louis Black over the years about the lack of gaeity in the celebration of this lovely culture and I want to know why someone doesn't do something about that.

Peace!

PS - For a great kid friendly version of this story, Elmo's Happy Holidays video is terrific. My kids walked around saying "I'm Judah Maccabee and I'll worship anyway I want to" for the whole month.

Later...
Don't you think that Santa giviing gifts only to children equates with only children receiving gifts on hanukkah? I think the fact that Christmas encourages children to think of their parents and give them gifts as well is a nice way for parents to feel appreciated and for kids to learn about their parents. Jews could encourage kids to make things for their parents at Hanukkah time, I think.

Answer 3

It may not be the exact definition of Christmas, but I think that a lot of naive people, and ones that don't celebrate the holiday, think of it that way because of gifts.

For Hanukkah, people receive gifts from loved ones.
For Christmas, people receive gifts from loved ones.

I believe that is the connection there, rather than the traditions behind each celebration.

Answer 4

Yes.