Focus on Light this Holiday Season

This year, the start of Hanukkah and Christmas Day coincide, which happens approximately only every 30 years. Both of these religious holidays are special for those who celebrate them, and some people celebrate both! Let’s explore a few similarities between Hanukkah and Christmas:

• Hanukkah commemorates the celebration of the great miracle when a one-day supply of oil to provide light lasted eight days as the Jewish people rededicated the Temple over 2,100 years ago. Christmas remembers the birth of Jesus Christ of Nazareth born over 2,000 years ago – who the Bible declares came as the light of the world. John 8:12 “Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, ‘I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” (New Living Translation) Interestingly, Kwanzaa this year will focus on “Lifting up the Light that Lasts”.

• In celebration of the miracle of the one-day oil lasting eight days, the Jewish people proclaimed an annual eight-day festival, Hanukkah, beginning the 25^th day of Kislev (the ninth month of the Jewish calendar.) Kislev – the root meaning is trust and hope. Christmas is always celebrated on December 25^th.  Christians believe Jesus’ birth is good news as He brought life, light, and hope into the world. Luke 2:10 “but the angel reassured them. ‘Do not be afraid!’ he said. ‘I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people.” (New Living Translation)

• Both Hanukkah and Christmas have similar traditions: giving gifts, eating together, and gathering with those you love. In many families, each holiday has special foods, such as latkes (potato pancakes often served with applesauce) for Hanukkah and some type of potato (often mashed) for Christmas.

This coinciding of Hanukkah and Christmas is not a coincidence this year. It is very much a year when we need to bring light to darkness, celebrate others and their traditions, recognize that differences bring variety and wonder into the world, and banish hatred because we are all human beings and made in the image of a loving creator.  

While many people will be celebrating this season with presents, laughter, joy, family, and friends, there are people who have a difficult time during this time of year. Let us offer our prayers and presence to those we know who need a loving touch, remembrance, and hope.

We wish all those who are celebrating Hanukkah – Happy Hanukkah or Hanukkah Sameach! To those celebrating the birth of Jesus – Merry Christmas, Feliz Navidad…

For those who celebrate Kwanza – Happy Kwanzaa, which begins on 12/26/2024. Although not a religious holiday, Kwanzaa is an African American and pan-African holiday that celebrates family, community, and culture, which deserves to be recognized. This year, Dr. Maulana Karenga, who initiated the practice of providing an annual Kwanzaa Founder’s Message, picked the title for that message, “Celebrating Kwanzaa in Difficult and Demanding Times: Lifting Up the Light that Lasts.” Please click the link below to learn more.

And to all, whether you are celebrating any of these holidays or not, we wish you light, hope, love, peace, and joy as we move from 2024 into 2025.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

For more information:

Hanakkuh: my Jewish Learning https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/hanukkah-101/

Christmas: Why Christmas https://www.whychristmas.com/

Kwanza: The Official Kwanzaa Website https://www.officialkwanzaawebsite.org/