Hanukkah vs. Christmas — What's the Difference?

Known as the Festival of Lights, commemorating the miracle of the oil.

A Christian holiday celebrating Jesus Christ's birth on December 25th.

Celebrates Jewish resilience and faith.

Known for festive meals, carols, and holiday gatherings.

Includes traditions like dreidel games and eating latkes.

Emphasizes themes of peace, joy, and goodwill.

An eight-day Jewish festival celebrating the Second Temple's rededication.

Includes religious observances like church services and nativity scenes.

Often involves nightly menorah lighting and prayers.

Involves customs like decorating trees and exchanging gifts.

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 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.

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.

A Christian feast commemorating the birth of Jesus.

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

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

Christmastide.

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.

Period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6

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

Spend Christmas;

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

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

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

Christmas commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ.

Christmas is celebrated on December 25th.

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

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

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

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

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

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."

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

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

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

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