Hanukkah (Hebrew: חנוכה‎, alt. Chanukah or Hanukah), also known as the Festival of Lights, is an eight-day Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem at the time of the Maccabean Revolt of the 2nd Century BCE. Hanukkah is observed for eight nights, starting on the 25th day of Kislev according to the Hebrew calendar, and may occur from late November to late December on the Gregorian calendar.

The festival is observed by the kindling of the lights of a special candelabrum, the Hanukiah, or Hanukkah Menorah, one on each night of the holiday, progressing to eight on the final night. An extra light called a shamash, (Hebrew: "guard" or "servant") is also lit each night, and is given a distinct location, usually higher or lower than the others. The purpose of the extra light is to adhere to the prohibition, specified in the Talmud (Tracate Shabbat 21b-23a), against using the Hanukkah lights for anything other than publicizing and meditating on the Hanukkah story.

Hanukkah is mentioned in the deuterocanonical or apocrypha books of 1 Maccabees and 2 Maccabees. 1 Maccabees states: "For eight days they celebrated the rededication of the altar. Then Judah and his brothers and the entire congregation of Israel decreed that the days of the rededication...should be observed...every year...for eight days. (1 Mac.4:56-59)" According to 2 Maccabees, "the Jews celebrated joyfully for eight days as on the feast of Booths."

Christmas is an annual holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus. The date of the celebration is traditional, and is not considered to be his actual date of birth. Christmas festivities often combine the commemoration of Jesus' birth with various secular customs, many of which have been influenced by earlier winter festivals.

In most places around the world, Christmas Day is celebrated on December 25. Christmas Eve is the preceding day, December 24. In the United Kingdom and many countries of the Commonwealth, Boxing Day is the following day, December 26. In Catholic countries, Saint Stephen's Day or the Feast of St. Stephen is December 26. The Armenian Apostolic Church observes Christmas on January 6. Eastern Orthodox Churches that still use the Julian Calendar celebrate Christmas on the Julian version of 25 December, which is January 7 on the more widely used Gregorian calendar, because the two calendars are now 13 days apart.

The word "Christmas" originated as a contraction of "Christ's mass." It is derived from the Middle English Christemasse and Old English Cristes mæsse, a phrase first recorded in 1038.[1] In early Greek versions of the New Testament, the letter Χ (chi), is the first letter of Christ (Χριστός). Since the mid-sixteenth century Χ, or the similar Roman letter X, was used as an abbreviation for Christ.[2] Hence, "Xmas" is often used as an abbreviation for Christmas.

After the conversion of Anglo-Saxon Britain in the very early 7th century, Christmas was referred to as geol,[1] the name of the pre-Christian solstice festival from which the current English word 'Yule' is derived.[3]

The prominence of Christmas Day increased gradually after Charlemagne was crowned on Christmas Day in 800. Around the 12th century, the remnants of the former Saturnalian traditions of the Romans were transferred to the Twelve Days of Christmas (26 December – 6 January). Christmas during the Middle Ages was a public festival, incorporating ivy, holly, and other evergreens, as well as gift-giving.

Modern traditions have come to include the display of Nativity scenes, Holly and Christmas trees, the exchange of gifts and cards, and the arrival of Father Christmas or Santa Claus on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning. Popular Christmas themes include the promotion of goodwill and peace.

THE TRUE BIRTHDAY OF JESUS
    According to the best information I can find, Jesus was born on the 14th of May in 6 BC. Therefore His 2,000 birthday was on 14 May 1995. Regardless of which date you choose for the birthday of Jesus it was not on December 25th or January 6th and God never intended that it would be observed and celebrated. God wants us to remember the death, burial and resurrection of His Son, which is the Good News and the purpose of His coming.
    For several centuries the Christian assembly itself paid little attention to the celebration of Jesus' birth. The major Christian festival was Passover, the day of His Resurrection. Only gradually, as the church developed a calendar to commemorate the major events of the life of Jesus, did it celebrate His birth.
    Because the date of Jesus' birth had been forgotten, a day had to be selected. The Eastern Orthodox and the Eastern Rite churches chose January 6 while the Western church, based in Rome, chose December 25. It is known from a notice in an ancient Roman almanac that Christmas was celebrated on December 25 in Rome in AD 336. For 300 years His birthday was not celebrated so why should we celebrate it today?
    It is said the "Jesus is the reason for the season" but it never was so from the beginning. Today Christmas is a celebration for the god of possessions and merchandise. Santa Clause is this god's name and you had better watch out for he is keeping a list of who is naughty and who is nice. At least that is the teaching of the followers of this god.
    Our HOPE, SALVATION, and REDEMPTION is in Jesus not Santa. Yet it seems that more people believe in Santa than in Jesus. Whom will you choose to follow?

    "Don't lay up treasures for yourselves on the earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consume, and where thieves don't break through and steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
    The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is sound, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is evil, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!
    "No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other; or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You can't serve both God and Mammon." Matthew 6:19-24 WEB
    NOTE: Those who follow Christ are full of light while those who follow Santa are full of darkness.

    Does this mean Christians cannot give gifts during Christmas and observe the holiday? In this area, as in many others, a balance must be sought. Churches should not have Christmas trees or anything to do with Santa Clause in their programs. Christian families should teach their children, at an early age, that Santa Clause is not real and does not bring gifts. They should not be taken to set on Santa's lap to recite a list of wants or be allowed to write him letters. They should be taught when questioned "What did Santa bring you?" to reply that my parents, grandparents, and others gave me my gifts.
    It is of the greatest importance that Christians are taught that all comes from God and all belongs to Him. We are the stewards of His gifts. To say Santa brings gifts will make God jealous for it damages His name, for He is the One who gives gifts not Santa. "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!" Matthew 7:11 WEB



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WHY JESUS IS GREATER THAN SANTA CLAUS
Santa lives at the North Pole.
JESUS is everywhere.

Santa rides in a sleigh.
JESUS rides on the wind and walks on the water.

Santa comes but once a year.
JESUS is an ever present help.

Santa fills your stockings with goodies.
JESUS supplies all your needs.

Santa comes down your chimney uninvited.
JESUS stands at your door and knocks, and then enters your heart when invited.

You have to wait in line to see Santa.
JESUS is as close as the mention of His name.

Santa lets you sit on his lap.
JESUS lets you rest in His arms.

Santa doesn't know your name, all he can say is "Hi little boy or girl, what's your name?"
JESUS knew your name before you did.

Not only does He know your name,
He knows your address too.
He knows your history and future and
He even knows how many hairs are on your head.

Santa has a belly like a bowl full of jelly.
JESUS has a heart full of love.

All Santa can offer is HO HO HO.
JESUS offers Health, Help and Hope.

Santa says "You better not cry."
JESUS says "Cast all your cares on me for I care for you."

Santa's little helpers make toys.
JESUS makes new life, mends wounded hearts, repairs broken homes and builds mansions.

Santa may make you chuckle but.
JESUS gives you joy that is your strength.

While Santa puts gifts under your tree.
JESUS became our gift and died on a tree.
Yes, from sin He sets us free!



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Now thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift!
2 Corinthians 9:15
But to each one of us was the grace given according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Ephesians 4:7

Certainly you included the exact amount needed for you to criticize Christianity.....again.

That was the purpose, of course.








Merry Christmas.