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by Anonymous on December 11th, 2006

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What exactly does Hanukkah mean? How does it differ from Christmas?

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  • by AgnusDei on December 11th, 2006

    AgnusDei

    Hanukkah, or Chanukah, is a Jewish holiday that lasts for eight days, and it commerates the Miracle of the Oil. After Antiochus IV or VI (can't remember) desecrated the Temple of Jerusalem, it was re-established when the Maccabees' claimed victory over the Seleucid Empire. There was only enough oil to keep the "eternal flame" going for one day, but miraculously, it burned for 8 days, which is how long they needed to get/make new oil. Or at least, that's the most common and traditional explanation of the holiday.

    Christmas is supposedly the celebration of the birth of Jesus on 25 December.

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  • by goldiemae on December 27th, 2006

    goldiemae

    You already have some excellent explanations of Hanukkah and why it is celebrated. However, there is no connection between Hanukkah and Christmas except that they are observed around the same time, and both are gift-giving occasions.

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  • by Ephraim on December 2nd, 2007

    Ephraim

    Chanukah is a celebration of the fact that the Macabees took back possession of the temple. They found only enough oil to light the eternal flame for one day in spite of the fact that it took eight days to make more. They lit the oil and it miraculously lasted the eight days needed to make new oil. It is a holiday but not a holy day for the Jews. The celebration is rather simple with the lighting of candles for eight nights, eating of doughnuts, potato pancakes and children playing games. Generally gifts are given from the parents to children and consist of either chocolate (usually chocolate coins) or money (chanukah gelt.)

    Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ (though it is hard to tell through all the consumerism.)

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  • by cookie on November 17th, 2007

    cookie

    hanukkah is a hebrew festival commemerating a miricle that god performed, of making one day of oil last for eight days.


    christmas is the celebration of the birth of christ, unfortunately mixed with the pagan worship of the winter solstice

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  • by goldiemae on December 28th, 2006

    goldiemae

    Hanukkah is not related in any way, shape or form to the winter solstice. It is commemoration of the rededication of the Temple, and a celebration of the miracle of a one day's supply of oil lasting for eight days. I do agree that Christ was born in the spring during Passover, as I have heard that from Messianic Jews, and from other sources. But the question was how was Hanukkah different from Christmas? I merely pointed out that both celebrations are observed at about the same time, and both are gift-giving occasions.

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  • by Eliiza7 on November 23rd, 2009

    Eliiza7

    As some of you have already stated, it is the commemoration of the restoration and dedication of the temple at Jerusalem after it had been defiled by Antiochus IV (Epiphanes). But, if you read the historical account in 1 Maccabees, you will see that there is no mention of there only being enough oil for 1 day and a miracle of the lamps continuing to burn for 8 days. Many historians and even Jewish scholars admit that that part of the traditional story may be a fable that developed over time through the retelling and embellishing of the original account. Over time, many things have been added to Jewish feast days and holy days that were never a part of the original feasts and sabbaths, just like with the Christian holidays, which have become accepted as part of the tradition. Also, the Hebrew word Hanukkah means "dedication" in English. And in the Gospel of John chapter 10 verses 22 and 23 give reference to this feast being celebrated by Jesus and the Jews of His day; "It was the feast of the Dedication at Jerusalem; it was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon.".

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  • by ErikMartin on December 27th, 2006

    ErikMartin

    "Christmas is supposedly the celebration of the birth of Jesus"
    No, Christmas is QUITE DEFINITELY the celebration of the birth of Jesus.

    *** Sorry, this was supposed to be a response to AgnusDei's answer, not a separate answer. There doesn't seem to be a way to delete it.

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  • by ConchasRules on December 7th, 2010

    ConchasRules

    EVERYONES TALKING ABOUT HAPPY HANUKKAH?!?!?!??!LOL

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