2007-12-04 10:59:23 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Holidays ➔ Hanukkah
No. Christmas is the celebration of Christ's birth. Chanukah is the celebration of the triumph or the Maccabees in battle. They happen to fall around the same time of year and they've both been commercialized. That's the end of the similarities.
2007-12-04 11:03:26 · answer #1 · answered by la buena bruja 7 · 6⤊ 1⤋
Hanukkah has nothing to do with Christmas. Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Christ. Jews still believe the Messiah has not yet come.
Hanukkah celebrates the rededication of the second Temple during the time of the Maccabee rebellion. It's celebrated over 8 days, starting on 25 Kislev in the Jewish calendar, I believe.
The reason people associate Hanukkah with Christmas is that they happen both during the same time of the year. In the US, a lot of Jewish families put up trees and call them Hanukkah bushes and also give their children gifts on each of the 8 days to compensate for not having gifts at Christmas. Most other Jews in other countries don't really do this.
2007-12-04 12:46:41 · answer #2 · answered by Matokah 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
No. If you looked up the history of Hanukkah, you will see it has nothing to do with Jesus or Santa. It's more of a celebration for the miracle that occurred when an oil lamp burned for eight days. It's actually fairly unimportant compared to other Jewish holidays. I just think it gets a lot of media because it's in December like Christmas is.
2007-12-04 11:50:14 · answer #3 · answered by ☆SummertimeJewel☆ 2 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Hanukkah
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Several Hanukiyot on the eighth night of the festival.
Official name Hebrew: חֲנֻכָּה or חנוכה
English translation: "Establishing/Dedication" (of the Temple in Jerusalem)
Also called Festival of Lights, Festival of Dedication
Observed by Jews in Judaism and Christians interested in Judaism
Type Jewish
Significance The Maccabees successfully rebelled against Antiochus IV Epiphanes. The Temple was purified and the wicks of the menorah miraculously burned for eight days.
Begins 25 Kislev
Ends 2 Tevet or 3 Tevet
2007 date sunset, December 4 to sunset, December 12
2008 date sunset, December 21 to sunset, December 29
Celebrations Lighting candles each night in a Hanukkah menorah (or hanukkiyah). Singing special songs, such as Ma'oz Tzur. Reciting Hallel prayer. Eating festive meals and foods fried in oil, such as latkes and sufganiyot. Playing the dreidel game, and giving Hanukkah gelt
Related to Purim, as a rabbinically decreed holiday.
Grand Rabbi Israel Abraham Portugal of Skulen Hasidism lighting Hanukkah lightsHanukkah (Hebrew: חנוכה, also spelled Chanukah or Hanukah), also known as the Festival of Lights, is an eight-day Jewish holiday beginning on the 25th day of Kislev according to the Hebrew calendar, which may fall anytime from late November to late December. It celebrates the rededication of the Second Temple at the time of the Maccabee rebellion.
The festival is observed by the kindling of lights on each night of the holiday: one on the first night, two on the second, and so on.
2007-12-04 11:08:12 · answer #4 · answered by Judy M 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
No. Is christmas the christian Hanukkah? It's actually a little insulting that you would ask this.
2007-12-05 01:10:10 · answer #5 · answered by KathyS 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am a Christian and most Christians have believed the story that Jesus Christ was born on December 25th. They also believe that his birth began the year 1 A.D. Well we don't start a New Year on December 25th . Jesus really born on December 25? Probably not. The Bible doesn’t tel us his exact birthday, and the Nativity story contains conflicting clues. The presence of shepherds and their sheep suggest a spring birth not a Winter birth. When the Catholics settled on December 25 at the end of the third century, they likely wanted the date to coincide with existing pagan festivals honoring Saturn (the Roman god of agriculture) and Mithra (the Persian god of light). That way, it became easier to convince Rome’s pagan subjects to accept Christianity as the empire’s official religion Yes.. even the Catholic Church did not celibrate Christmas unti the mis 300s A.D. There wer no records of Birth when Jesus was born...NO Birth Certifcates..No Social Security Numbers assigned... No Cigars passed out... No Birthday presents given out... never, never,never.
2014-12-23 17:12:29 · answer #6 · answered by Gary 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No,no,no. It is the celebration of a miracle. After the Syrians destroyed the temple and the Israelites recaptured it there was only enough oil to last a day (to light the eternal flame) It lasted 8 days until new oil could be pressed. It is celebrated over 8 days with children recieving small gifts, and perhaps something bigger on the eighth day. Growing up the big present giving time was my birthday.
2007-12-04 11:05:54 · answer #7 · answered by Franklin 5 · 6⤊ 1⤋
Hanukkah and Christmas are completely unrelated religiously and tranditionally.
2007-12-04 11:07:12 · answer #8 · answered by Richard B 7 · 4⤊ 1⤋
no not at all on Hanukkah u thank g-d and celebrate the miracle g-d did for the jews first for chasing off antiochus and second for making the menorah light for eight days
2007-12-04 14:24:53 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Not even close. The only similarity it does share with Christmas is that it's the celebration of a miracle. Other than that, there's nothing similar between the two.
2007-12-04 11:31:30 · answer #10 · answered by Danagasta 6 · 3⤊ 1⤋