A Brief History of Hanukkah and Christmas
In December, the bright lights of Hanukkah and Christmas illuminate the dark winter sky. It is a time of great celebration in both the Jewish and Christian communities, but for very different reasons. These two celebrations are only days apart on the Gregorian Calendar in the month of December. However, technically, on the Biblical Calendar, Hanukkah occurs near the end of the Ninth Month and Christmas occurs in the first few days of the Tenth Month.
AI generated image of the victorious Maccabean warriors standing in front of a brightly lit golden menorah in the Second Temple in Jerusalem.
Nativity scene of the birth of Yeshua (Jesus) which is described in the Bible and generally interpreted as scenes like this. The Bible does not give December 25th as the date of Yeshua’s birth.
Neither of these two holidays is an Appointed Time commanded by God. They are both created by their religious group to honor and celebrate events that demonstrate God’s miraculous power and grace in our lives. Over the years each of these celebrations have been modified and evolved to something less religious, and more cultural and materialistic.
Hanukkah is a Rabbinic Jewish Festival
Hanukkah is a Rabbinic Jewish festival commemorating the recovery of Jerusalem and subsequent rededication of the Second Temple at the beginning of the Jewish Maccabean revolt against the Seleucid Greek Empire in the 2nd century BCE. The Maccabean Warriors were the heroes of the day but very little is said about them in the Hanukkah celebration.
The Maccabees were a priestly family led by Mattathias and his sons—most famously Judas Maccabeus—who organized Jewish rebels against the Seleucid Empire between 167–160 BCE. They began as guerrilla fighters and grew into a disciplined force that reclaimed Jerusalem and rededicated the Temple, an event commemorated by Hanukkah.
Key Figures and Warriors
• Mattathias the Priest: Sparked the revolt by refusing to worship Greek gods and killing a Seleucid official.
• Judas Maccabeus (“The Hammer”): The most renowned warrior, known for bold guerrilla tactics and decisive victories against larger Seleucid armies.
• Jonathan Apphus: Judas’s brother, who later became leader and negotiated political alliances.
• Simon Thassi: Another brother, who eventually secured Jewish autonomy and became High Priest, founding the Hasmonean dynasty.
• Eleazar Avaran: Remembered for his heroic death at the Battle of Beth Zechariah, where he attacked a war elephant carrying Seleucid troops.
• John Gaddi: The fifth brother, less prominent but part of the family’s leadership.
Their victories restored Jewish worship in the Temple and laid the foundation for the Hasmonean kingdom, a rare period of Jewish independence in antiquity.
The original date for the start of Hanukkah is the 25th of the Hebrew month of Kislev in 164 BCE which is the Ninth Month on the Biblical Calendar. This date has remained the fixed start of the holiday ever since, though in the Gregorian calendar it can fall anywhere between late November and late December.
Hanukkah comes from the Hebrew word ḥănukkāh, which literally means “a dedicating.” The name comes from the holiday’s origin story: Hanukkah commemorates the rededication of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem in the second century BCE.
After liberation, according to the story in the Talmud, there was only a jar with enough oil to light the Temple’s lamps for one day. A miracle permitted the oil to burn for eight days until new consecrated oil was brought in, thus the eight days of Hanukkah.
Christmas is a Christian Cultural Holiday
Christmas is a Christian and cultural holiday celebrated on December 25 to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ (Yeshua the Messiah). It is both a religious feast central to Christianity and a widely observed cultural festival marked by traditions like gift-giving, family gatherings, and festive decorations.
The reason for the Christmas season is to celebrates the Nativity of Yeshua (Jesus), the story told in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke about Yeshua (Jesus) being born in Bethlehem to Mary and Joseph. In Isaiah 7:14, the prophet declares that a child will be born and called Immanuel as a sign of God’s presence with His people and His gift to the whole world for salvation.
The word Christmas first recorded around the year 1038; originates from the Old English phrase “Cristes Maesse,” which means “Christ’s Mass”. “Christ” comes from the Greek word “Khristos“, meaning “anointed one”, and “Mass” comes from the Latin “missa“, referring to the celebration of the Eucharist. The two parts were combined to name the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ
The Church fixed December 25 as the celebration date in the 4th century, aligning it with the Roman winter solstice and existing winter solstice celebrations like the Roman Saturnalia. Pope Julius established December 25th as the date to celebrate the birth of Jesus, possibly to absorb or “Christianize” these popular existing pagan celebrations. Ancient winter festivals for thousands celebrated the coming of spring, including the Roman festival of Saturnalia in December. Pagan traditions such as decorating with evergreens and exchanging gifts, originated in these pre-Christian winter festivals. Over centuries, these traditions and figures like Santa Claus were incorporated, with many of today’s most popular customs solidifying during the Victorian era in England and America.
Other related terms used for the holiday include Nativity from the Latin Nativitas for “birth”, found in languages like Spanish (Navidad) and Italian (Natale). Another name, Noël, comes from the French noël, meaning “news” or “nowel” specifically referring to the birth of Jesus Christ.
There was an early Christian resistance to Christmas among groups like the Puritans, who opposed Christmas celebrations, viewing them as too pagan and secular, and even outlawed them in some areas.
Many Jewish homes will be lit up with blue lights as a visual recognition just as Christmas lights are red and green. The blue lights are symbolic and spiritual:
Spiritual meaning: Blue is tied to truth, loyalty, and divine presence. In Jewish tradition, blue recalls the tekhelet dye used in ancient garments and the tallit (prayer shawl).
Seasonal connection: Hanukkah falls in winter, so blue evokes the cold skies and crisp nights of the season.
Cultural identity: Blue and white mirror the colors of the Israeli flag, reinforcing Jewish pride and continuity.
Calming and uplifting: Blue is a cool, serene color that enhances the spiritual atmosphere of menorah lighting and family gatherings.
Modern adaptation: In post-WWII America, Jewish families emphasized Hanukkah with decorations in blue and white to give children a festive alternative to Christmas colors.
The centerpiece of the holiday decor is the nine‑branched menorah (chanukiah) that was introduced in the 2nd century BCE, during the time of the Maccabees, to commemorate the miracle of Hanukkah. The original seven‑branched menorah remained the sacred Temple vessel, but Jewish households began using the nine‑branched version specifically for Hanukkah observance after the Temple was rededicated. Eight branches represent the eight days of the miracle, and the ninth branch (the shamash) is used to light the others. One candle is lit each night of the eight-day celebration.
Evolution of modern Christmas traditions:
Gift-giving: The tradition of gift-giving is rooted in both the biblical story of the wise men bringing gifts to baby Jesus and in the pre-Christian tradition of exchanging gifts during Saturnalia.
Christmas trees: The custom of decorating evergreen trees was brought to England from Germany by Prince Albert, consort to Queen Victoria, in the mid-1800s. The practice then became popular in the United States after an image of the royal family with their tree was published in American magazines in 1848.
Santa Claus: The modern figure of Santa Claus is a blend of traditions, primarily inspired by the 4th-century bishop St. Nicholas, who was known for his generosity. His image was further shaped in the 19th century through poems like Clement Clarke Moore’s “A Visit from St. Nicholas” and illustrations by cartoonist Thomas Nast.
Christmas in America had a delayed acceptance and was not widely celebrated in early America. Puritans in Massachusetts, for example, banned it. However, following the Civil War, there was a renewed interest in Christmas as a holiday that emphasized family and home. In 1870, Congress officially declared Christmas a federal holiday in the United States.
According to the sources listed below: Red and green became the traditional Christmas colors because they symbolize life, renewal, and the story of Christ, with roots in medieval plays, evergreen plants like holly, and later reinforced by Victorian Christmas cards and modern marketing. To see more detailed research click on the links below:
CuriosityAroused.com The Fascinating Origins of Red and Green as Christmas Colors: The Fascinating Origins of Red and Green as Christmas Colors – Curiosity Aroused
Readers Digest: Why Are the Christmas Colors Red and Green? Christmas Colors 2025: History and Meaning of Red, Green & More
NBC’S TODAY Christmas colors: Why red and green are the hues of the holiday. Christmas Colors: History and Meaning Behind Red and Green