What is Hanukkah? Is it “Jewish Christmas”?
Hanukkah is an eight-night Jewish festival of lights. It remembers when a small group of Jews, the Maccabees, won back the Temple in Jerusalem and rededicated it, about 2,200 years ago. Families light one more candle each night, eat fried foods and play dreidel. It’s not Jewish Christmas. It’s its own story. The next one begins Friday, December 4, 2026.
1 · MindWhat people believe, and how they know
Hanukkah means “dedication.” Around 167 BCE, a Greek-Syrian king outlawed Jewish practice and set up an idol in the Temple. A family called the Maccabees led a revolt, won, and rededicated the Temple. The story is told in the books of 1 and 2 Maccabees, which appear in Catholic and Orthodox Bibles.
The Talmud adds a famous detail: there was only enough pure oil to light the Temple lamp for one day, but it burned for eight. That’s why families light a menorah (also called a hanukkiah) with nine branches: eight candles and a “helper” candle used to light the others. Fried foods like latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiyot (jelly doughnuts) remember the oil.
Religiously, Hanukkah is a smaller holiday than Passover or Yom Kippur. It grew bigger in America partly because it falls near Christmas. It follows the Hebrew calendar, so it moves around in late November and December.
What each tradition or community says
We're Christians, so we list what Christians believe first. Every other section is checked by someone from that faith or community.
The Gospel of John says Jesus was in the Temple in Jerusalem during “the Feast of the Dedication,” which is Hanukkah (John 10:22).
It’s a cozy, joyful week: candles, games, fried food and family. Kids love it. It isn’t the most important holiday, but it’s one of the most fun.
They’d rather Hanukkah not become a Christmas substitute. Some families give small gifts. Others give one per night, or none at all.
2 · HeartWhat it feels like
Every December, many Jewish kids get asked, “So what do you do instead of Christmas?” It’s a kind question, but it can feel like their holiday only exists in comparison.
Hanukkah’s own story is about keeping your faith when someone powerful tried to erase it. Many Jews feel that story personally.
The whole point of a menorah is to put it in the window where the street can see it. A good street is one where that feels safe to do.Neighbor Radio
3 · HandsHow to be a good neighbor
Say “Happy Hanukkah” or “Chag sameach” (happy holiday). If you’re invited to light candles, stand back and enjoy it. Try a latke. If you see a menorah in a neighbor’s window, that’s an invitation to say something kind.
This weekLearn to play dreidel. It takes about two minutes, and you’ll know the letters by the end.
SourcesWhere it is in the scriptures
New Testament
- John 10:22 Read it in the World English Bible on Free Scripture
Plain wordsWhat do these words mean?
- Catholic
- The largest Christian church in the world, led by the Pope in Rome.
- Orthodox
- For Christians: the Eastern Orthodox churches (Greek, Russian, Ethiopian and others). For Jews: the most traditional branch of Judaism. The word means “right belief.”
- Talmud
- A huge collection of rabbis’ discussions about Jewish law and life, finished around AD 500. Jews still study it together today.
- Gospel
- “Good news.” The message about Jesus. The Gospels are the four books (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John) that tell his life.
Four questions to take with you
From Jesus' story of the Good Samaritan, about the stranger who stopped to help. We call it the Samaritan Test.
- Did they see? Or look right past?
- Did they stop? Even when it was inconvenient?
- Did it cost them? Time, money, comfort, reputation?
- Did they treat the person like a person? Not like a label?
Try it on: do you know your neighbor’s holidays only by how they compare to yours?
Quick questions
Why does the date change every year?
Hanukkah starts on the 25th of Kislev in the Hebrew calendar, which follows the moon and sun differently from ours.
Is it okay to say “Happy Hanukkah” to a Jewish coworker?
Yes. It’s warm and welcome.
What do the letters on a dreidel mean?
They stand for “A great miracle happened there.” In Israel, one letter changes so it says “here.”
- John 10:22 (World English Bible)
- Talmud, Shabbat 21b (Sefaria)
- My Jewish Learning: Hanukkah 101
- Encyclopaedia Britannica: Hanukkah
Written in plain words by the Neighbor Radio team. Each faith's and community's section is checked by someone from that faith or community. Until then, this page says so. Spot something wrong? Tell us. We read every note and fix mistakes.
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