Hanukkah Cards for the Holidays

With all the attention Christmas receives during the winter months, you might think it’s the only religious holiday being celebrated. However, December is also a special time for those from the Jewish faith. While Christians are counting down the days to Christmas, their Jewish friends are celebrating Hanukkah – one of the most important celebrations in Judaism.

Appreciating that other people have different celebrations and religious beliefs is especially important at this time of year. So let’s look at some of the background of this important holiday and how you can show your friends who celebrate the holiday that you care about them during the winter season.

Origins of Hanukkah

Hanukkah (also known as the Festival of Lights) is an 8 day festival to commemerate a miracle that occurred around 165 BCE. Many decades earlier, the Jewish people had been living in Israel (also known as Judea) and were allowed to freely practice their religion and customs under the current king. However, when a new king took the throne things changed. Temples were robbed and many Jewish people were killed. Their religion was banned and, possibly the greatest insult, Zeus was to be worshipped in the Jewish temple.

The new king had not expected his drastic actions to provoke a revolt which was led by a Jewish priest named Mattathias and his sons. When he died, one of his sons continued the fight and around 165 BCE the revolt finally succeeded. They were able to take back their temple.

The menorah (the candelabra that has come to symbolize the holiday) in the temple needed to burn nightly but not enough olive oil was available in the temple. Only enough for one night was available and it would take eight days to create a new supply. Much to their surprise, however, that limited amount of oil ended up burning for the entire eight days. To celebrate the miracle, the holiday was declared.

Hanukkah is celebrated by lighting one candle every night for the duration of the holiday.

Sending Hanukkah Greetings

Christmas isn’t the only holiday in which you can send cards to let friends and family members know you’re thinking about them during the season. You’ll also find a number of Hanukkah cards available for the holidays. Two examples are the Happy Hanukkah Holiday cards and the Festival of Lights holiday cards.

Remember that, unlike Christmas, the date of Hanukkah varies from year to year. In 2007, the celebration begins at sundown on December 4th and lasts through December 12th.