Why don't more Christians celebrate Chanukah?

[redwink]

I've been thinking about holidays and such lately - working on this year's music mix, trying to stragetize how the make the holidays as happy as possible for my family, etc. Peter, Paul & Mary's "Light One Candle" was playing when the question popped into my mind

Comments

[justjayj]

My understanding is that it's because the full-blown celebration of Chanukah is a modern tradition, dating to the founding of modern Israel. In fact, the event Chanukah memorializes isn't even in the accepted Jewish scriptures. So until less than a century ago, Chanukah had about the cultural presence of, say, Pentacost among Catholics. You did the extra ritual stuff, but it wasn't months of planning and gift-giving and big parties and dinners and visiting relatives and all that stuff.

Another, unrelated way to look at it: Why don't Muslims, who do revere Mary as a holy woman (and I think they even accept the concept of her being sinless), celebrate the Immaculate Conception (used in it's proper sense, not the Virgin Birth sense)?

[etherealizabeth]

?????

[justjayj]

Am I incorrect? I know it's an ancient holiday commemorating a historical event, but I understood it was never the big deal it is now in the culture until recently. I apologize if I'm spreading misinformation.

[etherealizabeth]

It's okay, I'm not offended. It's always been a big deal, but Jews are quiet bunch of people. We have holidays all the time that are virtually unnoticed by the outside world. :o)

[etherealizabeth]

We do both to appease the children (there is no Jewish Santa Claus), and Jason's parents (who are distinctly NOT Jewish). Ten days of holidays in December = a ton of work

[redwink]

I don't even leave work before dark during midwinter. So I'd love to hear any work-around info you can share.

Can you tell I'm focusing on being mindful, spirituality, and traditions these days? ;)

[redwink]

Oh, and is there a book you can recommend - something simple - for how to observe Chanukkah? I really think I want to try it this year.

[etherealizabeth]

I have more that I want to type, but I'm trying to finish up a project. I'll definitely have more to tell you tomorrow. In the meantime, there's a children's book called Jewish Holidays All Year Round by Ilene Cooper that may help you. It's got summaries of the holidays and activities you can do. I'll look and see if there's something else that may help.

Do you want to say the prayers in Hebrew or in English? Or try both?

[wendywoowho]

Because the Jews killed Jesus? It's all well and good to think that the Jewish people should be in the Promised Land, but once it extends to trying to integrate Jewish traditions into fine upstanding Christian homes, people get squeamish.

And that's all only slightly facetious.

I really think that there's a lot of anti-Semitic undercurrent in our society and religious practices. Well, more broadly, a lot of anti-Other.

[etherealizabeth]

There is definitely a lot of truth to this, although quite a few people forget that Jesus was "King of the Jews." I've had people actually say to me, "Well, He didn't mean to be. His parents were." Other people have said, "No, He was Christian!" Um, yeah...

Aside from general stupidity, though, as I mentioned to justjayj, there is also not the commercialism for Chanukkah that there is for Christmas. There are are no Chanukkah carols to buy cds of, or Chanukkah trees to be picked up or ornaments to put ont them. Last year for the very first time, I saw that Yankee Candle had put out Chanukkah scents, which I'm pretty sure is a first for any candle company. Most Jews don't do Santa Claus... There just isn't the money to be made there, so it's easy to sweep it under the rug.

[redwink]

There are are no Chanukkah carols to buy cds of

I beg to differ. I own four. Then again, that's about 2% of my holiday music collection, so you do have a point about the lack of commercial exploitation of the holiday. And technically, I'm not sure if any of the songs on the CDs could be defined as a carol. But the CDs do exist! ;)

On a side note, Solstice CDs also exist, and seemingly in greater numbers. However, you'll almost never find them at your local Wal-Mart.

[etherealizabeth]

Would you send me the names of your cds?? I would love to have copies of those!

[ennuigrrl]

I would love to share chanukkah with you!!!!!