9781422276525

introduction

Christmas & Hanukkah I n the modern era, and particularly in the Western world, Christmas and Hanukkah have become major events in the calendar. The Christian festival of Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ, while Hanukkah celebrates a miracle that took place during biblical times. Although the events recalled in these holidays are unconnected, Christianity and Judaism spring from common traditions and holy books; in fact, their origins are so closely linked that people often refer to a Judeo-Christian tradition or heritage. Both Hanukkah and Christmas take place close to the winter (or December) solstice—the shortest day of the year. Many ancient cultures celebrated this annual turning point. At a time when people are anxiously awaiting the return of longer days, both Christmas and Hanukkah are closely associated with light. For example, the central ritual of Hanukkah involves lighting candles every day for eight days. During Hanukkah, electric menorahs decorate public places where open flame is not permitted and are also sometimes placed in the windows of Jewish homes. Other symbols, such as the Star of David or the dreidel, frequently form part of light displays. In the Christmas story, a star marks the stable where Jesus is born, and Christ himself was called “the light of the world.” Most Christians would consider Christmas incomplete without lights decorating both their homes and the public spaces around them, not to mention special events such as candlelit church services. Jews and Christians both consider sacred the 39 books that make up the holy scripture, or holy text. The Hebrew Bible or Tanakh, which is also known to Christians as the Old Testament, was composed before the birth of Jesus. Most of it was originally written in Hebrew, and it contains the history, prophecies, and knowledge of the ancient people of Israel. Judaism and Christianity

Christmas & Hanukkah

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