Hanukkah & Christmas - What Should Christians Do?
Hanukkah and Christmas happen around the same time every year. Knowing where these holidays originate and what they represent will help us honor our Lord during this season.
How did the celebration of Christmas begin?
What does the Bible say about it?
What is Hanukkah?
How does it apply to Christians?
Answering these questions will help us rejoice in what our Lord has done and honor Him during the holiday season.
Origins of Christmas
The precise origin of assigning December 25 as the birth date of Jesus is unclear. The New Testament provides no clues in this regard. December 25 was first identified as the date of Jesus’ birth by Sextus Julius Africanus in 221 and later became the universally accepted date.
One of the most popular explanations is that December 25th was the Christianizing of the dies solis invicti nati (“day of the birth of the unconquered sun”), a popular holiday in the Roman Empire that celebrated the winter solstice as a symbol of the resurgence of the sun, the casting away of winter and the heralding of the rebirth of spring and summer. This date was reinforced in 336 A.D., when the first Christian Roman Emperor, Constantine, was in charge. He wanted to distance Christianity from Judaism and declared this as the official date of celebration.
After December 25 had become widely accepted as the date of Jesus’ birth, Christian writers frequently connected the rebirth of the sun and the birth of the Son. What does the Bible say about merging our celebrations with other pagan holidays?
Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say to them, You shall be holy: for I the LORD your God am holy. (Leviticus 19:2 AKJV)
The word “holy” means to be set apart. We cannot take part in celebrations dedicated to other gods. We cannot merge our celebrations with pagan rituals and make them holy.
Christmas in Recent History
Religious changes influenced Christmas in the 17th century. Oliver Cromwell and the Puritans banned Christmas until Charles II's reign. Pilgrims didn't introduce Christmas to America in 1620, which was forbidden in Boston from 1659 until 1681. After the American Revolution, Americans refused to celebrate Christmas. It wasn't a government holiday until June 26, 1870.
Christmas Trees
None of the contemporary Christmas customs have their origins in connection with scripture, and most are of a fairly recent date. Some trace the integration of fir trees to a book in the Renaissance era. Germany is credited with starting the Christmas tree tradition—as we now know it—by the 16th century when sources record devout Christians bringing decorated trees into their homes. Some built Christmas pyramids of wood and decorated them with evergreens and candles if wood was scarce.
As early as 1747, Moravian Germans in Pennsylvania had a community tree in the form of a wooden pyramid decorated with candles. But, as late as the 1840s, Christmas trees were seen as pagan symbols and not accepted by most Americans. It is not surprising that, like many other festive Christmas customs, the tree was adopted late in America. New England’s first Puritan leaders viewed Christmas celebrations as unholy.
One person is responsible for Christmas trees being part of the holiday season. In 1846, the popular royals, Queen Victoria and her German Prince, Albert, were sketched in the Illustrated London News standing with their children around a Christmas tree. Unlike the previous royal family, Victoria was very popular with her subjects, and what was done at court immediately became fashionable—not only in Britain but with fashion-conscious East Coast American Society. The Christmas tree tradition had begun despite the connection of fir trees to pagan holidays.
Santa Claus
Perhaps the biggest slight to our Heavenly Father is that on the day we have declared a celebration of the birth of the Son of God, most of the world teaches their children to eagerly await another man who will bring gifts! Jesus is the greatest gift given to mankind, yet the world focuses on Santa!
The popular conception of Santa Claus (also known as Saint Nicholas, Saint Nick, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle, or Santa) originates from folklore traditions surrounding the 4th-century Christian bishop Saint Nicholas, the patron saint of children. Saint Nicholas became renowned for his reported generosity and secret gift-giving.
Prior to Christianization, the Germanic peoples (including the English) celebrated a midwinter event called Yule. With the Christianization of Germanic Europe, numerous traditions were absorbed from Yuletide celebrations into modern Christmas. Odin's role during the Yuletide period has been theorized as having influenced concepts of St. Nicholas and Santa Claus in a variety of facets, including his long white beard and his gray horse for nightly rides (compare Odin's horse Sleipnir) or his reindeer in North American tradition.
Is it Wrong to Celebrate Christmas?
Honoring Jesus on December 25th is not wrong, we should honor Him every day of the year. However, coming into agreement with pagan traditions is absolutely wrong! Here is what the word of God says:
Hear the word that the LORD speaks to you, O house of Israel. Thus says the LORD: “Learn not the way of the nations, nor be dismayed at the signs of the heavens because the nations are dismayed at them, for the customs of the peoples are vanity.
A tree from the forest is cut down and worked with an axe by the hands of a craftsman. They decorate it with silver and gold; they fasten it with hammer and nails so that it cannot move. (Jeremiah 10:1-4 ESV Strongs)
By celebrating the birth of our Savior on the day pagans celebrated the sun with items mixed in from different pagan traditions, we are operating in vanity. How much does our current Christmas celebration resemble this verse? We cut a tree, we decorate it with silver and gold, we fasten it into a stand… This is wrong!
The Old and New Testaments warn us not to participate in traditions linked to other gods.
What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? (2 Corinthians 6:15-16 ESV)
We cannot participate in customs centered around other gods or pagan traditions. Bringing elements of pagan worship into your life Let’s continue reading a bit more:
What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, and I will be a Father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to Me, says the Lord Almighty.” (2 Corinthians 6:16-18 ESV)
We no longer have to go to a temple in Jerusalem to worship God or to be in His presence. We have the honor and privilege to be His temple, to carry His presence inside us. We have the honor of being called His sons and daughters. But God expects us to leave all other gods alone. Anything that has to do with worshiping other gods cannot have a place in the life of a Christian.
What should we do at Christmas? Is there another alternative?
What is Hanukkah (Chanukah)?
About 130 years before Jesus was born, Israel was in a mess. They were ruled by the Syrian-Greek Empire, dominated by Syrian rulers of the dynasty of the Seleucids. Seleucus IV was oppressing the Jews and serious internal threats to Judaism added to the external troubles.
The influence of the Hellenists (people who accepted idol worship and the Syrian way of life) was increasing. Yochanan, the High Priest, foresaw the danger to Judaism from the penetration of Syrian-Greek influence into the Holy Land, in contrast to the ideal of outward beauty held by the Greeks and Syrians, Judaism emphasizes truth and moral purity, as commanded by God. Yochanan was therefore opposed to any attempt of the Jewish Hellenists to introduce Greek and Syrian customs into the land.
This is where Christianity is today. Our world is captivated by the outward beauty. For the last couple hundred years Christians have been celebrating their God with pagan-influenced holidays and holidays of pagans!
Yochanan was removed as High Priest and great atrocities were committed against God’s people. Thousands were killed for holding to their faith and the temple was desecrated by the oppressors.
A gorilla group of freedom fighters called the Maccabees eventually liberated Jerusalem. The golden menorah that should remain burning at all times in the Temple had been stolen. When they wanted to light it, they found only a small container of pure olive oil bearing the seal of the High Priest Yochanan. It was sufficient to light for only one day. Miraculously, it continued to burn for eight days, until new oil was made available to rededicate the Temple.
The Temple menorah has seven branches, one interpretation of the meaning is that they represent the seven days of creation. The priests lit the Menorah in the Temple every evening and cleaned it every morning, replacing the wicks and placing fresh olive oil into the cups. The light of the Menorah symbolizes an eternal flame.
The Hanukkah Menorah or Hanukkiah is a nine-branched candelabrum lit during the holiday. On each night of Hanukkah Jewish people light a new candle or wick. The ninth one is called the Shamash (“helper” or “servant”), is used to light all the other candles or oil lamps. Scripture shows us that we, Christians have a helper who keeps the Light of God shining in our hearts since we are the new temple:
But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. (John 14:26 ESV)
For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. (Romans 8:14 ESV)
As Christians we can celebrate this! We have been given the Holy Spirit who will help teach us God’s ways, but we must be willing to follow Him. Hanukkah begins on Christmas this year. I believe it is because Christians must come out of the world and rededicate their temple, their lives, to God.
Jesus was the best gift ever given to mankind. Through Him we become children of the Most High God. Because of the sacrifice of our Lord, we receive His Spirit, the Holy Spirit. It is time to honor our Lord in the right way. It is time to rededicate the temple of our bodies.
Christian Hanukkah
Israel celebrates Hanukkah to remember how God miraculously supplied oil for eight days until more oil could be made so that His Temple could be rededicated and to once again present sacrifices and offerings to Him. As Christians, we are God’s new Temple and His Holy Spirit dwells within us. We can celebrate Hanukkah by remembering that we are God’s Temple and reaffirming our commitment to follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
During Hanukkah, we can celebrate as Israel does, with an updated focus:
Lighting Candles Each Night
For Christians: The ninth candle that we use in lighting the menorah represents the Holy Spirit who brings God’s light into our lives.
Reading Scripture Each Night
For Christians: Focus on scriptures that honor the Holy Spirit. Perhaps something like this:
Day 1: Jesus describes the importance of receiving the Holy Spirit: John 3
Day 2: The Baptism of the Holy Spirit: Luke 24 and Acts 1
Day 3: Aspects of the Holy Spirit: Isaiah 11
Day 4: Gifts of the Spirit: 1 Corinthians 12
Day 5: Operating in the Gifts of the Spirit: 13 & 14
Day 6: Fruit of the Spirit: Galatians 5
Day 7: Administration Gifts of the Holy Spirit: Romans 12
Day 8: Calling Gifts of the Holy Spirit: Ephesians 4
Prayer Each Night
The prayer should be focused on the scripture reading but guided by the Holy Spirit
Day 1: Thanking God for sending Jesus so that we can receive His Spirit.
Day 2: Thanking Jesus for sending the Holy Spirit to us when we receive Him as Lord
Day 3: Ask the Father to fully reveal the attributes of His Spirit
Day 4: Ask the Holy Spirit for the Gifts of the Spirit
Day 5: Examine your life and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal how to operate with Him
Day 6: Ask the Holy Spirit to help you improve in bearing His fruits
Day 7: Thank the Holy Spirit for the gifts He’s brought to work for His Kingdom.
Day 8: Ask the Lord if you are called to an office and thank Him for those in the offices and/or focus on the last half of the chapter and check your life to see if you are grieving the Holy Spirit.
Gifts
Many families give small gifts, as a candle is lit each night. Some Jewish families follow a tradition of giving coins that children can use for charity.
Christians may choose to give small gifts or coins each night with the last night reserved for the largest gift.
Songs and Games
Spend time singing or listening to your favorite worship songs and playing games with friends and family.
Food
Don’t forget your favorite foods! Delicious goodies and meals are always part of this celebration. Israel focuses on fried food because the miracle was with the supply of oil. It is your choice what foods you share, let the Holy Spirit guide you!
In whatever way you choose to celebrate, the focus should be on our Heavenly Father, His Son, and the Holy Spirit.
The Foreshadow
Hanukkah is truly a foreshadowing of what will happen before the Lord returns. There will be a week of trouble upon the earth known as Daniel’s Week. Although there are many teachings about this week, some claim that Christians will be removed halfway through or before it begins. I believe that this confirms that Christians will be on the Earth for the entire week and removed in the eighth year after the week has passed.
Our Lord would enter the same Temple where this miraculous event occurred. It shows that God will miraculously supply His Spirit to light the way for His people during a time of darkness. The parable of the ten virgins reveals that the oil of the Holy Spirit will be lost for some. We must be willing to do things His way: we must be Holy as He is Holy, only then will the Holy Spirit continue to flow.
Find out more about Daniel’s Week, the ten virgins, and what the Bible says about the removal of God’s people (rapture), in the videos posted in the description or the Revelation page at the Living Word.
For now, it is enough to know that Hanukkah occurs on Christmas, and continues through the new year. This is the time to rededicate your temple to God. To be holy unto Him as He is Holy. Let’s begin by removing the man-contrived date of the birth of Jesus which has pagan influences and focusing on the gift of the Holy Spirit and all He brings!
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