This year, as the lights of Hanukkah and Christmas candles illuminate homes on the same night, we’re reminded of the profound connection between these two holidays. Though they arise from different traditions, both celebrate miracles, the resilience of faith and the triumph of light over darkness. The convergence of Hanukkah and Christmas invites reflection on their shared themes, offering an opportunity for interfaith families and friendships to explore celebrating both holidays together.

Hanukkah, the holiday that we celebrate yearly, is not in the Tanakh or Hebrew Bible, but it is in the New Testament. The only time Hanukkah is mentioned in the Bible is in the New Testament, since Hanukkah took place after the Old Testament was canonized.

The story of Hanukkah appears in the books of the Maccabees, texts that are not part of the Jewish canon. The books of the Maccabees are, however, included in the Septuagint and are canonical for Roman Catholics, Anglicans and Orthodox Christians.

Hanukkah in the Bible and Jesus’s Celebration

Hanukkah, also known as the Feast of Dedication, commemorates the Maccabean revolt and the rededication of the Jerusalem Temple. This pivotal event occurred during the so-called “400 years of silence” between the Old and New Testaments, when no new prophetic writings were added to Scripture. Despite the absence of prophetic voices, God was actively preserving God’s covenant people and their worship.

The only biblical mention of Hanukkah is in the New Testament, in John 10:22-23, where Jesus travels to the Temple during the Feast of Dedication. Just as Hanukkah celebrates the miraculous preservation of the Temple, Christmas commemorates the miracle of Jesus’s birth, a culmination of the faith exemplified by Jewish matriarchs. It is poignant that Jesus celebrated Hanukkah—a festival honoring the rededication of the Temple, a sacred space He later cleansed and renewed by driving out the moneychangers (John 2:13-17).

Hanukkah also highlights the miracle of the oil that lasted eight days during the Temple’s rededication, symbolizing God’s provision and care. This “festival of lights” aligns beautifully with Christmas, which celebrates the arrival of the Light of the World, Jesus Christ, who came to overcome spiritual darkness.

Miraculous Births: A Common Thread

The birth of Jesus, celebrated at Christmas, reflects a pattern of miraculous births in the Hebrew Scriptures. These stories reveal God’s faithfulness, God’s power to bring life against all odds and the pivotal roles of women in salvation history.

Examples from the Hebrew Scriptures:

  • Sarah bore Isaac in her old age, fulfilling God’s promise to Abraham and continuing God’s covenant.
  • Hannah, after fervent prayer, gave birth to Samuel, dedicating him to God’s service as a prophet.
  • Manoah’s wife, following divine instructions, raised Samson as a Nazirite, destined to deliver Israel.
  • Elizabeth, like Sarah and Hannah, experienced a miraculous pregnancy in her old age, giving birth to John the Baptist.

Mary’s story mirrors these matriarchs. Her miraculous conception of Jesus fulfilled God’s ultimate promise of salvation. Mary’s joyful hymn, the Magnificat, parallels Hannah’s prayer of thanksgiving (1 Samuel 2:1-10), highlighting a shared faith and trust in God’s plan.

Mary as Teacher and Example

In Jewish tradition, mothers play a foundational role in shaping their children’s spiritual lives. Mary, as Jesus’s first teacher, guided Him in the practices of Jewish faith, teaching Him prayers, dietary laws and stories from the Torah. She modeled Halakhah—the Jewish way of living rooted in justice, kindness and devotion to God. Through her teaching and example, Jesus learned “the Way,” a concept He later embodied and taught to others.

The rededication of the Temple during Hanukkah foreshadows Jesus’s mission to renew faith, both in His cleansing of the Temple and in His role as the Light of the World. Mary’s role in forming His understanding of faith connects these themes, bridging the traditions of Hanukkah and Christmas.

Light as a Unifying Symbol

Both Hanukkah and Christmas center on the symbolism of light. The candles of the menorah represent hope, resilience and God’s provision, while the star over Bethlehem symbolize divine revelation and salvation. Together, these holidays remind us that light overcomes darkness, a message as vital today as it was in ancient times.

A Shared Celebration of Hope and Unity

This year, as the lights of Hanukkah and Christmas candles shine together, we are reminded of the power of faith and miracles. Both holidays teach us to trust in God’s presence, even during times of silence or hardship. They call us to reflect on resilience, unity and the promise that light will always overcome darkness.

As we celebrate Hanukkah and Christmas this year, let the light of these traditions inspire us to stand firm in our faith, to embrace the miraculous and to carry their message of hope into the world around us. In doing so, we honor the enduring power of faith and the shared legacy of these two beautiful holidays.

This post has been contributed by a third party. The opinions, facts and any media content are presented solely by the author, and JewishBoston assumes no responsibility for them. Want to add your voice to the conversation? Publish your own post here. MORE