is it wrong or right for a non-jewish to celebrate Hanakuh if they've always celebrated christmas?

Answer 1

I do not think so. My wife is half Jewish and her parents have always celebrated both.

To ask that question you would have to be under the assumption that Christmas has it's origins in Christianity.

Roman officials decided on December 25th as the date for Christmas because they were trying to convert their heavily Pagan nation to the religion. The Pagan's Mid-Winter festival, Saturnalia, was held at this time of the year. In order to lure them over, many holidays that are now associated with Christianity were decided by the dates of corresponding Pagan holidays and festivals.

Christmas was more like Mardi Gras than the holiday we know today up until as late as the late 19th century. Yes, that's right, Mardi Gras! In England, during the 17th century, Protestants had taken over the country. Being very religiously strict they actually outlawed Christmas for it's vulgarity. Of course the people wanted their celebration so they in turn reinstated the Monarchy.

In the United States, after the Revolutionary War, anything English as shunned. Therefore Christmas was reinvented. It was decided the holiday would be about family and togetherness rather than raucous partying.

The Christmas tree also has it's roots in Pagan culture. Evidence of "Christmas" trees date back as far as Egypt. Santa Claus in his modern form was also only recently invented. In the 1940's he was revamped as the jolly old man we all know. Actually this was done by advertising agencies and stores of the time in order to help sell merchandise. Before that, Santa was more in line with the partying ideology of the Pagan Christmas. In fact, Santa's image evolved from a Pagan gnome like creature. Very much unlike what we know today.

Answer 2

is christmas still considerd religious? but actually it has its begginings in pagan roots it was made so as to the convertion (forced or volentary) "A winter festival was traditionally the most popular festival of the year in many cultures. Reasons included less agricultural work needing to be done during the winter, as well as people expecting longer days and shorter nights after the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere.[1] In part, the Christmas celebration was created by the early Church in order to entice pagan Romans to convert to Christianity without losing their own winter celebrations.[2][3] Most of the most important gods in the religions of Ishtar and Mithra had their birthdays on December 25. Various traditions are considered to have been syncretised from various winter festivals. It is unknown exactly when or why December 25 became associated with Jesus' birth. The New Testament does not give a specific date.[4] Sextus Julius Africanus popularized the idea that Jesus was born on December 25 (thanks to wikipedia and so forth) so yea what you celebrate as the birth of Jesus of Nazareth is just another pagan holyday that the catholic church made up from other religions but as atheist celebrating it sure why not if it gets every one to act nicer for a day and as for celebrating Hanukka well let another 100 years pass and we just might lol

Answer 3

Early Christians (I'm talking about Roman Empire era here) often had to convert to Judaism before becoming Christians. If you celebrate the Jewish holidays or keep kosher, etcetera, to respect the Jewish faith and celebrate the common ties between the two religions, I don't see a problem with it at all.

Answer 4

I think that it's good to experience other religions and cultures and a great way of learning about these cultures and religions is to celebrate the holidays (especially the Jewish ones) as you learn a lot about their history and the reasons why they celebrate the days they do and why they celebrate them the way that they do.

I think though it's disrespectful to celebrate it, just as an excuse to get extra presents or whatever.

Answer 5

There is nothing wrong with celebrating any holiday of any religion! It is just simply a showing of respect for someone else's values and beliefs.

Answer 6

It's fine for anyone to celebrate Hanukkah, most of the holiday comes from history that does not conflict with other beliefs.

Answer 7

Chanukah is a lesser holiday and you can celebrate both. Easter and Yom Kippur is another story.

Answer 8

we are orthodox and spent Hanakuh last year with some Jewish friends of ours....it was a very nice time and its good to learn about other cultures and traditions other people follow

Answer 9

You can celebrate anything you want for whatever reason. Even Leif Erikson Day!

Answer 10

I think it is good for all religions to come together and celebrate with each other or respect each for their own and each rejoice in their own way, whichever.