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Hanukkah is not actually a religious festival. Hanukkah is a minor holiday that commemorates the victory of the Jews against the Syrian-Greeks in the Maccabean War of 165 BCE.
Answer:
Hanukkah is indeed a religious festival, with special prayers, blessings and Torah-readings.
On Hanukkah the chief celebration is not for the military victory; it's for the miracle of the oil (Talmud, Shabbat 21b). As an augmentation to the celebration of that miracle, we alsothank God during Hanukkah for the Hasmoneans' miraculous military victories (during which they ousted the Seleucids and their lackeys, the Hellenizing Jews, making possible the rededication of the Temple).
The Seleucids (Syrian-Greeks) under Antiochus Epiphanes (2nd century BCE), at the instigation of the Hellenizers, had forbidden various Torah-practices such as Sabbath-observance and circumcision, rededicated the Temple to a Greek idol, and pressed the Jews to offer up sacrifices to the idol. One of the leading elder Jewish sages called upon the people to keep observing the Torah anyway; and if necessary, to use force in resisting the decrees. When a Hellenized Jew offered a sacrifice to the Greek idols in a nearby village, the sage killed him as well as the Greek overseer. This brought a violent reaction from the Greeks; and the loyal Jews, led by the Hasmonean family, were forced to retreat from their towns and strike out at the Greeks in an attempt to oust them from the Holy Land and to enable the people to once again observe the Torah. The Torah-Jews were heavily outnumbered by the attacking Greek armies, but God gave them miraculous victories again and again. After three years of struggle, the Greek armies retreated from Jerusalem, and the Hasmoneans (also called Maccabees) entered the Holy Temple which the Greeks had defiled, reconsecrated it to God, and began the Temple service once more. Among other things, they wanted to relight the olive oil candelabrum (Exodus ch. 25), but could only find one day's supply of undefiled oil - and it would take eight days to make and bring some more.
Miraculously, the menorah stayed lit for eight days (Talmud, Shabbat 21b), allowing enough time for new oil to be prepared and brought. The significance of the miracle is that it demonstrated that God's presence was still there. The Torah-community was overjoyed, because God's presence meant everything to them.
This is what Hanukkah represents: the closeness to God; and the avoidance of Hellenization (assimilation).
The Torah Sages instituted the festival of Hanukkah at that time (Talmud, Shabbat 21b), to publicize the miracle (Rashi commentary, ibid). This is why we light our Hanukkah-menorahs.
(The Hanukkah-menorah, or hanukkiyah, is a special form of the original seven-branched menorah. Our Hanukkah-menorahs have eight spaces for oil, or candles, to mark each of the eight days for which the oil lasted and a ninth to hold the shamash, a candle used to light the others.)
The eight-day rededication of the Temple is also mentioned in pre-Talmudic sources: Megillat Taanit (ch.9), the book of Maccabees (I, 4:56-59; and II, 1:18); and Josephus (Antiquities ch.12).
The Al-Hanisim prayer which we recite during Hanukkah centers around the Hasmoneans' victory and rededication of the Temple, while the candle-lighting commemorates the miracle of the oil.
Though the military victory is prominently mentioned in the prayers, it wouldn't have been celebrated if not for the miracle of the oil, just as we have no special occasion to mark Abraham's victory (Genesis ch.14), or those of Moses (Numbers ch.21), Joshua, Deborah (Judges ch.4), Gideon (Judges ch.6-7), Jephthah (Judges ch.11), or King David. And though the Hasmonean battles continued for two decades after the retaking of the Temple, the Sages instituted Hanukkah immediately after the miracle of the oil.
It should also be noted that the main goal for which the Maccabees fought was not political independence. They fought to enable the people to observe the Torah's commandments; as we say in the Al Hanisim prayer: "the Greeks sought to cause us to forget Your Torah and leave Your statutes."
What else can I help you with?
What festivals is there during Hanukkah?
Hanukkah is a festival.No other festival in another tradition necessarilycoincides with Hanukkah, since the date of Hanukkah is set by using the Hebrew calendar while the festivals of other religions are set using different calendars.
Why do people in Islam have Islamic festivals?
Same reason why other faiths have religious festivals.
How was Greek religion the center of life in anchient Greece?
The religious festivals were both religious and recreational. Even the Olympic Games (and other games) were religious festivals.
How does hajj compare with other religion and festivals?
Most festivals are annual events. While there is a Haj (pilgrimage) every year, a Muslim only has to attend it ONCE in a lifetime.
What did Athenians do to practice their religion?
They participated in religious festivals, acted in the plays which were part of them, and participated in other religious rituals and sacrifices and offerings, at temples and religious sporting festivals helding in honour of the gods.
Which religion celebrates yon kippur and Hanukkah?
The religion that celebrates yon kippur and Hanukkah is known as Judaism, which is the oldest religion...they also celebrate pesach, sukkot, purim and many other Jewish festivals.
What do Kwanzaa and Hanukkah have in common?
Both occur in the winter and include candles. Other than that, nothing. Kwanzaa is a secular tribute to African heritage which started in 1966. Hanukkah is a religious Jewish festival of thanksgiving to God for specific events and was instituted by the Torah-sages 2200 years ago.
Does the Jewish Hanukkah candlestick have an equivalent in other religions?
This candlestick is called a Chanukiah or Hanukkah-menorah, used to publicize the miracle of Hanukkah, and it has no equivalent in other religions. There are candelabras used in the festivals of other religions such as the one in Kwanzaa and the oil lamps used for Diwali. However, each of these has a different origin of use for the candelabra and a different significance attached to it. Therefore, it is not an equivalent but a parallel form.
Do atheists celebrate Christmas Hanukkah or any other kind of holiday that is religious?
they celebrate Christmas but not in a religious way.
Are there any cultural influences on the foods of the festivals of Hanukkah other than Judaism?
Special foods include potato pancakes (latkes) and jelly donuts (sufganiyot), but their origins are unknown.
What are the major judaisum festivals?
Major Jewish festivals include Passover (Pesach), which celebrates the Exodus from Egypt; Shavuot, commemorating the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai; and Sukkot, which marks the harvest and the Israelites' wanderings in the desert. Other significant holidays are Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, and Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, which focuses on repentance and reflection. Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, celebrates the rededication of the Second Temple and the miracle of the oil. Each of these festivals holds deep cultural and religious significance within Judaism.
How is France and Hanukkah connected?
France and Hanukkah are not connected. However, French Jews celebrate Hanukkah, just like Jews in all other countries.
