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Because the Jewish religious calendar, like the Christian liturgical calendar, is based on a lunar cycle. Since Christ himself was a knowledgeable and very active rabbi who celebrated all the Jewish holy days it stands to reason that Christians would have their own holidays in much the same way. (You do realize that Judaism was around for thousands of years before Christianity, don't you? Jews don't have alternate holidays to Christians; it's the other way around if anything. The Last Supper was actually a Seder.)
You're correct, though Judaism was technically only around for about 500-600 years prior to Christianity. It sprung out of the Israelite's experience in the Exile. They had a religion before this, but it was not called Judaism and did not share most of the core ideas that make up what later became Judaism. Even the name "Jew" was a late introduction, being based on a foreign term for the "Judahites" that were exiled.
But besides that small caveat - you're correct about Jewish and Israelite customs and practices predating Christianity. Christianity, after all, was a jewish sect when it began.
Hanukkah is not even an important holiday, and is a regular work day of Jews around the world.
However, the past few decades Jews wanted to bring back the importance of the holiday so they have something to compare and alt with Christmas since it usually fall during Christmas month. Why do Jews always have to have alt holiday when Christians have their own?!
That's a reason so the word "Christmas" gets avoided and start to use the "Holidays"....
What do you think?
Many Jews I know said the same as me, and even a ex-Jew has websites about it.
Also many Jews try to avoid anything to do with Christmas which I see as ridiculous if they live in a country where Christmas Day is a national holiday.
It might be good to note that if there wasn't the victory that the battle that Hanukkah celebrates, there probably would not have been a Christmas. Just sayin'.
That reminded me of this Lewis Black bit from one of his live performances. Now, for those whose ears are too sensitive to his rather colorful vocabulary and often employed euphemisms, you may not want to click on the video below, but it does reflect how he remembered the two holidays from his youth.
I would say some people look for ulterior motives and manage to find them. The simple fact is Dec. 25 comes at a holiday time for nearly all of the world. It is not just Christmas that is Celebrated on that Date.
Some other days that are on or near Dec. 25
Winter soltice(solstice)
I think that was THE REAL holiday and the others just followed with something unique to their religion.
To the OP: I don't get what you are saying. What's the point?
Why do they always have something alt. to a Christian holiday?
That's what my main point is
Before going much farther, perhaps you should examine a couple of facts. First, the celebration of Hanukkah began better than 150 years before Christ's birth. Second, the Christian celebration of Christmas on December 25th did not begin until more than 300 years after Christ's death.
Based on this perhaps the REAL QUESTIONS are more like: (a) "Exactly who is copying whom?" and (b) "Which celebration is more likely to be the real alternate celebration?"
Wishing you and yours the Season's BEST, regardless of how (and when) you celebrate it!
-- Nighteyes (who follows the teachings of Christ as he understands them)
Why do they always have something alt. to a Christian holiday?
That's what my main point is
You seem to be under the impression that the Jews got together a few years ago, looked at the dates of the Christian holidays, and then decided to invent their own holidays around those same dates. Is this what you think? Because that's the only explanation I can find for your "point."
One thing I used to find odd is Hanukkah is about the Maccabees, but the Book of Maccabees is not canonical in Judaism or Protestantism.
I think the explanation might have been that although Judaism does not see the specific book as valid for doctrine they recognize the importance of the Maccabees and their efforts in Jewish history. Is it something like that or did I really muff it there?
Chanukah commemorates the successful rebellion of the Jewish people against the Syrians in the Maccabean War of 162 BCE and after the victory the Jewish rededicated the Temple before they re-lit the menorah or “perpetual lamp". It has been told that although there was only enough consecrated oil to keep the lamp burning for one day and it would take eight days to get more, the small bottle of oil miraculously lasted for the entire eight days, so it is also for this reason that Hanukkah is known as the Feast of Lights .
Thus Jews have been lighting the menora in celebration for over 2000 years. It has nothing to do with Christ. Christmas, Christianity, Mary, Joseph or winter holidays. Incidentally it is summer "down under" and Christmas is celeebrated on the 25th of this month in the swimming pools and not in a snow storms. Santa wears that ugly red suit there, too.
One thing I used to find odd is Hanukkah is about the Maccabees, but the Book of Maccabees is not canonical in Judaism or Protestantism.
I think the explanation might have been that although Judaism does not see the specific book as valid for doctrine they recognize the importance of the Maccabees and their efforts in Jewish history. Is it something like that or did I really muff it there?
It's very strange how many of the "apocryphal" books were not included in the Jewish canon, but accepted in other canons (like the Catholic canon). Later, the Protestants insisted that only Hebrew books should be included in the Old Testament canon.
The books, like you say, were very important for Judaism and even reflected different approaches to it. But because they came after the period where some considered Divine Inspiration to have ended, and possibly because of their Hellenistic ideas (not all of them, of course), they were not included. The entire subject is strange and interesting. It used to have been said that the Greek of the books was another barrier - but now we have found many Hebrew manuscripts of at least parts of the books in question.
Today, because of Zionism, the accounts of the Maccabees have enjoyed increased favor and identification. It's one of the few periods in their history (since the Exile) in which they existed as an independent nation once again, albeit for a short time.
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Christianity, after all, was a jewish sect when it began.
