The word Hanukkah means "dedication." It recalls the dedication of people who died for their faith and the rededication of the Jerusalem Temple in 165 b.c.e. At that time, the foreign ruler, Antiochus Epiphanes IV, wanted to establish uniformity of trade and religion in his territories. Therefore, he demanded that the various peoples abandon their cultural practices and religions and adopt the Greek ways. Thus a statue of the Greek god, Zeus, was erected in the Jerusalem Temple.

In response, many of the people went along with the Greek practices. Many others, however, were martyred for their faith. One of the priests, Mattahias, and his son, Judas the Maccabee, led a revolt against Antiochus. They encouraged the people to flee to the desert and the hills in order to conduct a guerilla war against the Greeks. Against overwhelming odds, the Maccabee rebels won the war.

Judas found the Temple of Jerusalem desecrated. On the 25th of Kislev (Approximately December), he rededicated the Temple and purged it of any traces of paganism. As part of the ceremony, he relit the lamps of the great menorah. Thus the festival is known as the Feast of Lights. He also declared that this event should be celebrated each year. Thus, Hanukkah is a kind of Independence Day and Memorial Day together.

Hanukkah is really a minor Jewish holiday. Work is not forbidden on this holiday as it is on the great Jewish festivals. Hanukkah's date is determined by the lunar calendar. Therefore, it does not always coincide with the December 25th date of Christmas. Most non-Jewish calendars list only the first day of the feast as Hanukkah, but it truly is a feast that lasts eight days and eight nights. December 21 is the first night of Hanukkah and December 29 is the eighth day of Hanukkah.

It has become a family celebration. A candle lighted on each of eight successive days is the main ritual of this holiday. Other customs kept are the giving of gifts to children, the playing of special games, and the eating of special foods.

Some people speculate that this holiday has taken on greater importance than its historical and religious significance warrants because of the proximity of Christmas. They suggest that it is difficult for the Jewish family not to be celebrating at the very time that their Christian neighbors are in an extremely festive holiday mood. Perhaps the giving of gifts to children is an example of how the Christmas holiday has influenced the patterns of Hanukkah. This kind of mutual influence is common among ritual celebrations.

Fr. Bill Kohler, Archdiocese of Milwaukee Associate Vicar for Clergy