2007-12-09 11:51:10 · 13 answers · asked by stevel226 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Holidays ➔ Hanukkah
Christmas rules
2007-12-13 08:30:32 · answer #1 · answered by The Dragon Reborn 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree with the above writer. Some Jews don't do anything for Chanukah- it actually isn't a religious holiday although we are commanded by G-d to kindle the lights each night for 8 nights. In my family (Me, the grandma, 2 of my 3 daughters and all 3 grandkids) each have our own menorah which we light together each night while saying all the blessings, we make latkes a couple of times and eat some jelly doughnuts (sufganiyot), the kids get gifts each night and the adults even exchange a gift or two, we go to Temple the Shabbat during Chanukah (we go most Fridays anyway), we play Chanukah music for a couple weeks before and all during the holiday, and we decorate the inside of the house and put up a couple of window things, too. I'd say we're serious.
2007-12-09 21:59:53 · answer #2 · answered by nanny411 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Lots of good points made by other answerers. I'm going to address two things: that of seriously practicing the religion by a person, and that of how important the holiday is in relation to its religion.
Yes, I take Hannukah as seriously as Christians do Christmas - I practice it since (purportedly) it was commanded by G-d. Incidentally, as a Jew, Jesus Christ would also have celebrated Hannukah.
However, I don't believe that these two holidays have the same import in each other's religions. I'd say that Christmas is of utmost importance to Christians, since it is the reported birth of their revered savior, while Hannukah is considered a minor Jewish holiday, the celebration of a miracle of light.
In case you were wondering, the holiday Yom Kippur is the most important Jewish holiday. But it isn't really celebratory until it's over - it is a serious 24 hour fast and prayer marathon that occurs shortly after the Jewish New Year. Simply, it is our day of atonement for sins, and a way to start out the new year with a clean soul; we think that's pretty important.
If you have more Jewish questions, here's a website I like to reference: www. jewfaq.org
Good luck! ;-)
2007-12-10 01:06:33 · answer #3 · answered by Ppfooie 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
As other folks have said, Hanukkah is pretty minor, religion-wise. A lot of Jews take Shabbat as seriously as Christians take Christmas, though. And here, I'm speaking of the practicing Christians and Jews.
Some of my best memories are around the Shabbat table, during Shabbat services, etc. And Jews get this holiday every week! Yom Kippur and Rosh Hashanah don't even measure up to Shabbat!
2007-12-09 23:10:07 · answer #4 · answered by Tara 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That is a two sided question.
Which Christians are we talking about? The religious ones that don't think Christmas is all about presents and cookies and lots of food, but instead attend church, celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, spend the day with family and friends and getting the real meaning of the holiday?
Or
The Christians who know who Jesus Christ was and that is about it. Christmas is for presents, cookies and lots of food, they couldn't find a church if it was dropped on their door step and the only reason to see family and friends is to get more gifts.
So, which set are we talking about?
We are somewhere in the middle I guess. We have a family dinner on the first two nights. We light the menorah each night at sundown but my daughter gets a small gift each night and really looks forward to it. The story of Chanukah has been passed down and we all know it and tell it. We play dreydl and my daughter hands them out to her class and teaches them to play.
To us, that is taking it seriously.
2007-12-09 21:13:25 · answer #5 · answered by sinnyloo 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Chanukah is a minor holiday in the Jewish religion. Any person that is faithful to their religion should take every day, major holiday or minor holiday just as serious as any other. December 25th is no known day for Jesus Christ's birth. More made up days to appease a "created religion". Remember, everyone is really of the Jewish faith. Jesus was, after all, a Jew.
2007-12-09 23:04:49 · answer #6 · answered by Mitchell S 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Coming from a Jew-Wiccan household, Christmas is not a christian holiday, it's a holiday stolen from the ancient pagans. The real christmas is known as the Winter Solstice celebrated on the 21st of december. Early christians "used" christmas to convert the the pagan populace using a imitation of there own holiday. Besides, do you really think that Jesus was a Capricorn, he is so Piscean, so there is no way his birthday is on the 25th.
2007-12-09 23:44:54 · answer #7 · answered by Heather 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Depending of the people you are talking.
Most of the people light the candles all the nights, say the blessing, sing some Hanukkah songs and give gifts to their family and maybe some friends.
The religious people go to the synagogue all the days and some people that are not religious don't do anything because you could say that Hanukkah isn't an official is not wrote in the Torah but its a tradition and its a nice holiday
2007-12-09 23:02:31 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Hanukkah is not actually a very important holy day. Well, it is important, but not compared to the other holy days e.g. the day of atonement. Whereas for Christians, christmas is probably the major holiday of the year.
2007-12-10 00:51:19 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
i dont know how seriously christians do christmas, but chanukah is taken as seriously as any other holiday.
2007-12-09 23:37:43 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋