#whichcamefirst?

It's a common misconception among non-Jews...I should know. I have been one for nearly 60 years and I admit to having had this misconception myself, that...

Hanukkah is the Jewish version of Christmas. It is, in fact... Not. Not only that, but actually...

Hanukkah came before Christmas. I mean Christmas being celebrated by that name. What I mean is this...

Hanukkah, aka Festival of Lights or Feast of Dedication, was first celebrated in 164 BCE following the Maccabean revolt that successfully liberated the Second Temple from Seleucid Greek rule, followed by a rededication of the Temple. Christmas commemorates Jesus's birth, traditionally thought to be in 4 BCE, with celebration being established much later, likely in the 4th century CE, as Christians adapted pagan winter festivals to honor Jesus, making Hanukkah older by centuries. So no, Hanukkah is not the Jewish Christmas. If anything, Christmas is the Christian winter solstice celebration because of the December 25th date. But personally...