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Hanukkah vs. Christmas — What's the Difference?

Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Urooj Arif — Updated on May 15, 2024
Hanukkah is an eight-day Jewish festival celebrating the rededication of the Second Temple, while Christmas is a Christian holiday commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ on December 25th.
Hanukkah vs. Christmas — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Hanukkah and Christmas

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Key Differences

Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem during the second century BCE after the Maccabean Revolt. It is celebrated over eight days, typically in December, and involves lighting the menorah, playing dreidel games, and enjoying traditional foods like latkes. Christmas, on the other hand, celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ and is observed on December 25th by Christians around the world. It involves decorating Christmas trees, exchanging gifts, attending church services, and enjoying festive meals.
Hanukkah's main ritual involves lighting the menorah, an eight-branched candelabrum, with an additional "helper" candle called the shamash. Each night, one more candle is lit until all eight are glowing. In contrast, Christmas celebrations often center around nativity scenes, representing the birth of Jesus, and involve various customs such as singing carols and hanging stockings.
While Hanukkah's origin is historical, linked to the Jewish struggle for religious freedom, Christmas's origin is theological, focusing on the divine birth of Jesus Christ. Both holidays share a theme of light: Hanukkah celebrates the miracle of the oil that burned for eight days, and Christmas celebrates Jesus as the "light of the world."
Culturally, Hanukkah has grown in prominence in the Western world, often being associated with gift-giving, similar to Christmas. However, Christmas has a broader cultural impact, influencing secular traditions and being widely recognized even outside Christian communities.
In terms of significance, Hanukkah is considered a minor holiday in Judaism compared to major festivals like Passover and Yom Kippur, while Christmas is one of the most important holidays in Christianity, second only to Easter in religious significance.
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Comparison Chart

Religion

Judaism
Christianity

Duration

Eight days
One day (December 25th)

Main Ritual

Lighting the menorah
Decorating Christmas trees, nativity scenes

Origin

Rededication of the Second Temple
Birth of Jesus Christ

Historical/Theological

Historical
Theological

Key Theme

Miracle of the oil, religious freedom
Birth of Jesus, divine light

Cultural Practices

Dreidel games, eating latkes
Gift-giving, carols, festive meals

Religious Significance

Minor holiday
Major holiday

Compare with Definitions

Hanukkah

Known as the Festival of Lights, commemorating the miracle of the oil.
Hanukkah celebrates the oil that burned for eight days.

Christmas

A Christian holiday celebrating Jesus Christ's birth on December 25th.
Christmas marks the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem.

Hanukkah

Celebrates Jewish resilience and faith.
Hanukkah honors the perseverance of the Jewish people.

Christmas

Known for festive meals, carols, and holiday gatherings.
The family sang carols together on Christmas Eve.

Hanukkah

Includes traditions like dreidel games and eating latkes.
Children enjoyed playing dreidel during Hanukkah.

Christmas

Emphasizes themes of peace, joy, and goodwill.
Christmas is a time for spreading joy and kindness.

Hanukkah

An eight-day Jewish festival celebrating the Second Temple's rededication.
The family lit the menorah each night of Hanukkah.

Christmas

Includes religious observances like church services and nativity scenes.
The church hosted a Christmas Eve service.

Hanukkah

Often involves nightly menorah lighting and prayers.
Each evening, they recited prayers while lighting the menorah.

Christmas

Involves customs like decorating trees and exchanging gifts.
They decorated the Christmas tree with ornaments and lights.

Hanukkah

Hanukkah (; Hebrew: חֲנֻכָּה‎, Modern: Ḥanukkáh, Tiberian: Ḥanukkāh; usually spelled חֲנוּכָּה‎, pronounced [χanuˈka] in Modern Hebrew, [ˈχanukə] or [ˈχanikə] in Yiddish; a transliteration also romanized as Chanukah, Ḥanukah, Chanuka, Chanukkah, Hanuka) is a Jewish festival commemorating the recovery of Jerusalem and subsequent rededication of the Second Temple at the beginning of the Maccabean revolt against the Seleucid Empire in the 2nd century BCE. It is also known as the Festival of Lights (Hebrew: חַג הַאוּרִים‎, ḥag ha'urim). Hanukkah is observed for eight nights and days, starting on the 25th day of Kislev according to the Hebrew calendar, which may occur at any time from late November to late December in the Gregorian calendar.

Christmas

Christmas is an annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 as a religious and cultural celebration by billions of people around the world. A feast central to the Christian liturgical year, it is preceded by the season of Advent or the Nativity Fast and initiates the season of Christmastide, which historically in the West lasts twelve days and culminates on Twelfth Night.

Hanukkah

An eight-day festival beginning on the 25th day of Kislev, commemorating the victory in 165 BC of the Maccabees over Antiochus Epiphanes (c. 215-164 BC) and the rededication of the Temple at Jerusalem. Also called Feast of Dedication, Feast of Lights, Festival of Lights.

Christmas

A Christian feast commemorating the birth of Jesus.

Hanukkah

(Judaism) an eight-day Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Temple of Jerusalem in 165 BC

Christmas

December 25, the day on which this feast is observed as a public holiday in many countries.

Christmas

Christmastide.

Christmas

An annual church festival (December 25) and in some States a legal holiday, in memory of the birth of Christ, often celebrated by a particular church service, and also by special gifts, greetings, and hospitality.

Christmas

Period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6

Christmas

A Christian holiday celebrating the birth of Christ; a quarter day in England, Wales, and Ireland

Christmas

Spend Christmas;
We were christmassing in New York

Common Curiosities

What is Hanukkah?

Hanukkah is an eight-day Jewish festival celebrating the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem.

When is Hanukkah celebrated?

Hanukkah is typically celebrated in December, though its exact dates vary each year based on the Hebrew calendar.

How is Hanukkah observed?

Hanukkah is observed by lighting the menorah, playing dreidel games, and eating traditional foods like latkes.

What does Christmas commemorate?

Christmas commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ.

When is Christmas celebrated?

Christmas is celebrated on December 25th.

What foods are associated with Hanukkah?

Foods associated with Hanukkah include latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiyot (jelly doughnuts).

What is the significance of the menorah in Hanukkah?

The menorah symbolizes the miracle of the oil that lasted eight days during the rededication of the Second Temple.

Why is gift-giving associated with Hanukkah?

While not a traditional aspect, gift-giving has become popular during Hanukkah, especially in Western cultures, due to its proximity to Christmas.

Is Hanukkah a major Jewish holiday?

Hanukkah is considered a minor holiday in Judaism compared to holidays like Passover and Yom Kippur.

What are common symbols of Christmas?

Common symbols of Christmas include the Christmas tree, nativity scenes, and Santa Claus.

What is a dreidel, and how is it related to Hanukkah?

A dreidel is a four-sided spinning top used in a traditional Hanukkah game. Each side bears a Hebrew letter, forming an acronym for "a great miracle happened there."

What foods are commonly eaten during Christmas?

Common Christmas foods include roast turkey, ham, Christmas pudding, and cookies.

How is Christmas celebrated?

Christmas is celebrated by decorating Christmas trees, exchanging gifts, attending church services, and enjoying festive meals.

Is Christmas a major Christian holiday?

Yes, Christmas is one of the most important holidays in Christianity, celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ.

Why is gift-giving associated with Christmas?

Gift-giving at Christmas is inspired by the Magi's gifts to baby Jesus and symbolizes love and generosity.

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Author Spotlight

Written by
Urooj Arif
Urooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Tayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.

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