Hanukkah is a completely commercialized, made-up holiday...

[DisneyLovingMama]

That's what my boss told me today when I asked how she (a Christian) and her husband (a Jew) were going to celebrate the holidays. She went on to say that it was a commercial holiday developed entirely in response to Christmas and that it has no basis in religious past. She also then complained that it lasted for seven nights. She said it was too "tedious" to celebrate.

I figured my boss was completely bonkers and was ready to flamer her, but the Wikipedia entry on Hanukkah backs her up a little bit. "Hanukkah gained increased importance with many Jewish families in twentieth century America, including large numbers of secular Jews who do not celebrate other key holy days, such as Sukkot, who wanted a Jewish alternative to the intense Christmas celebrations that often overlap with Hanukkah."

Just wondering what other Jews thought.

 

[POB14]

She went on to say that it was a commercial holiday developed entirely in response to Christmas and that it has no basis in religious past.

Tell her to read the books of Maccabees. It is also probably the feast referred to in the gospel of John, 10:22.

It is a somewhat minor holiday, however, and the gift-giving aspect may be more of a response to Christmas.

(Not Jewish, but I hope this helps anyway.)

 

[Chuck S]

I'm not Jewish, but I certainly think Hanukkah is a religious holiday. Christmas wasn't always the big celebration we see today, either.

 

[punkin]

If your boss doesn't know it lasts for eight and not seven day, she has no right to an opinion. It is a minor temple festival, but still religious. Not nearly as big for Jews as Christmas is for Christians. However, tho gifts were not traditionally given, Chanukah gelt (money) was traditionally given to children.

 

[DawnCt1]

First of all Chanukah preceeded Christmas. Commericalism has only affected Christmas and Chanukah in the last 100 years, and secondly, and perhaps more importantly, I wouldn't use Wikipedia for anything that I didn't already know the answer to. John Siegenthaler's (sp) father was grossly maligned with horrible lies by someone who made an entry on Wikipedia. There is little oversight, little control and sometimes little truths.

 

[aviva5675]

Thats all true, 8 days of the holiday. Its a minor Jewish holiday thats become a bigger deal, espeically presents wise, so Jewish kids wouldnt feel as left out. Its the story of the Macabees, a band of Jews that were trapped in a synagogue by the Romans (?), with only a tiny bit of oil. The "miracle" is that the oil lasted for their lamps for 8 days, until others came to defeat the Romans and free the Macabees. Thats the whole lighting candles for 8 days thing. The Jewish calendar is a lunar one, not solar, like our regular one, which is why dates for the Jewish holidays are different every year. Its jut a huge coincidence that Chanukah starts this year on the 25th.

 

[Microcell]

Tell her to read the books of Maccabees. It is also probably the feast referred to in the gospel of John, 10:22.

It is a somewhat minor holiday, however, and the gift-giving aspect may be more of a response to Christmas.

(Not Jewish, but I hope this helps anyway.)

I have been Jewish in a former life (my dad is and I celebrated until I was 12) and that is right that it got more elaborate in the 20th century possibly in response to Christmas in a keeping up with the Joneses kind of way, but it has been celebrated for thousands of years! Not to the scale it is now to be sure.

Also if my bible learnin taught me right it was 8 days! It is seen as a minor holiday like Succot. In fact, I would venture to say Succot is more important if I were to rank them. Yom Kippor is the numero uno and keeping the Sabbath every week.

 

[UrsulasMyHero]

Your boss needs to blow it out her... *cough* as those above me have said, it is a minor temple holiday, but perhaps more commercialized since chrisatmas is now such a clusterfox.

 

[flminivanmama]

what they all said

 

[disneysteve]

The "miracle" is that the oil lasted for their lamps for 8 days, until others came to defeat the Romans and free the Macabees.

The oil story is the popular one, but the actual miracle of Chanukah is the fact that that tiny tribe of Jews led by Judah Maccabee defeated the great and powerful Syrians (not the Romans).

The holiday celebrates an event that took place in 165 B.C.E. when the Jewish soldiers recaptured the Temple, cleaned it and cleared out all the pagan idols and rededicated it. The Hebrew word Chanukah means "dedicate."

 

[bicker]

Different sects of Judaism celebrate Hanukkah for either 7 days or 8 days. It is not 8 days for everyone.

 

[Lisa F]

I love it when people say such and such is a "made up" holiday. Every holiday is a "made up" holiday, it's just a question of how recently it was "made up."

 

[bicker]

Good point!

 

[froglady]

I love it when people say such and such is a "made up" holiday. Every holiday is a "made up" holiday, it's just a question of how recently it was "made up."

I just finished rereading "Christmas in America" which is a history of how this holiday was celebrated over the years. In a nutshell, the "importance" of ANY religious holiday would increase with "competition" from other religions celebrating a holiday around the same time, or to other outside influences. It's true that when Christmas wasn't a big deal for Christians (Easter was, and should be, far more important from a theological standpoint) other religions didn't go all out for their holidays that occured close to Christian ones, most of which were "named" to counteract pagan ones.

It's also interesting to see how some Christians have given religious "backgrounds" to secular icons, but have secularized religious ones.

Santa Claus (based upon a Christian bishop, including his traditional garb, which is very similar to ecclesiastical garb of the 16th century; anyone see the recent photo of the Pope wearing a traditional hat?) has become secular, whereas candy canes and carols such as "The Twelve Days of Christmas" have gained a religious background more "devout" than when they were created. (BTW, some Christians will not sing carols as they were party songs sung during the celebration of Christmas. If anything special is sung during Advent, it's hymns only.)

 

[Puffy2]

All I know (I'm not Jewish) is that a friend who is Jewish told me that it's not one of the more imporant holidays.

 

[bicker]

The way I remember it, the important holidays in Judaism are: Yom Kippur, Rosh Hashana, Pesach (Passover), Sukkot, and Shavuoth. Every thing else, including Chanukkah, is consider to be like "Flag Day".

 

[froglady]

My point was that in the US, up until the mid 1800s, Christmas wasn't a big deal, either. Is Hannukah evolving into a "major" holiday? I think so, just as Christmas has evolved into one. There will always be some devout Jews who won't let it (in their households) just as there will be some who embrace celebrating more extravagantly. The same holds true with Christians and Christmas.

And I have seen more families celebrating BOTH holidays. After all, Jesus was an observant Jew, and some Christians are starting to be more accepting of our Jewish tradition, including holidays. Celebrating Hannukah doesn't diminish Jesus in any way, IMHO, any more than celebrating the 4th of July would.

So, no, Hannukah is not a "made-up, commercialized" holiday any more than Christmas is.

 

[bicker]

I don't get the impression that Chanukah is evolving into a major holiday. I believe most Jews recognize and acknowledge the situation for what it is: that the focus of Chanukah helps Jews fit-in better with what the dominant religion is focused on this time of year, nothing more. The focus on Chanukah is secular, within the minds of most Jews.

 

[catgurlars]

chanukkah is not a made up holiday, but it is not a major holiday. it isnt a holiday from the torah, thats why it isnt considered as such a major holiday. it doesnt say anywhere that ppl have to give presents. they only give presents b/c of the holiday season.

 

[ladycollector]

Hanukkah certainly isn't a "made up" holiday for no reason, and it is DEFINITELY not commercialized (IMO). If you want to say that, Christmas is also made up, and much, much more commercialized. Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. Hanukkah celebrates a miracle and the fact that Jesus once again took his people under his wing. I have much more detailed information on Hanukkah than that, because I have had to write an essay to explain to people what it is we actually celebrate, but I don't want to bore anyone here.

Your boss needs to keep her mouth shut, or someone needs to shut it for her.