While it’s easy to be overwhelmed by Christmas songs, decorating trees, and the idea of hoards of presents under the tree, you have to remember that there’s more to the holiday season. An often overlooked December holiday is the Jewish celebration of Hanukkah. Growing up in a household where my mother is Catholic and my father is Jewish put me in the unique position of celebrating both Christmas and Hanukkah. Since it’s a Jewish tradition to be raised according to the mother’s religion, I was raised Catholic, but I was also taught about Jewish holidays in order to respect the traditions and miracles associated with them. I remember lighting a small “Noah’s Ark” menorah as a child, where you lit the top of various animals, and then transitioning to a proper brass menorah as I grew older. I believe this signified my transition into properly understanding the importance of the Jewish culture and the deeper meanings behind celebrations like Hanukkah.
What is Hanukkah? Hanukkah is a celebration, also known as “the festival of lights.” The holiday involves menorah lightings to commemorate the victory of the Maccabees. The Maccabean revolt was a Jewish rebellion, from approximately 167 to 160 BC, in which a small band of Jews defeated one of the mightiest empires of the time: the Syrian-Greek Seleucids. After their victory, the Maccabees went to relight the Menorah in the Holy Temple of Jerusalem where they found there was only enough oil to last for a day. Miraculously, the oil burned for eight days and eight nights signifying the resilience of the Jewish people and their faith.
Related: 8 Crazy Nights: What Hanukkah Is All About
The Jewish people are a group that has been persecuted and massacred since the beginning of time. The Seleucids is simply one of the earliest examples of foreign authorities forcing their culture upon the Jews in an attempt to strip them of their identity. The Seleucids attempted to force Hellenization, the practice of worshipping pagan Greek gods, upon the Jews. They did this by outlawing the possession of Jewish scriptures, observing the sabbath, prohibiting feasts and holidays and replacing them with Greek traditions such as altars to Greek gods. Despite threat of torture and execution for those who continued to observe the Jewish faith, the Maccabees had the courage to form a rebellion to resist the brutality and contempt shown by the Seleucids.
Related: Your Guide To Hanukkah
The rebellion of the Maccabees represents the enduring strength of the Jewish people. Despite centuries of oppression and antisemitism, the Jewish people have maintained their faith and proven that discrimination against a race due to their religion is senseless. Every time in history that a religious group has been singled out due to their practices has resulted in chaos and a fracturing of mankind’s spirit. While Hanukkah is also a time to be surrounded by family, indulge in latkes and macaroons, play dreidel, and for the eight days of exchanging presents, it is first and foremost a time of reflection and celebration. It serves as a reminder to persevere and remain resilience in one’s faith despite whatever misconceptions may be associated with it. Remember that the holiday season also serves as an opportunity to practice being accepting and understanding of cultures other than one’s own.