In John 10:22 we see Jesus going up to Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Dedication.  This was not a feast of the Lord that was given to Moses on the mountain.  But it was one that Jews began to celebrate after the events of 164 B.C.  It is a minor feast as Purim is also.

It is interesting that a year ago I sent out an email where I clearly showed the origins of christmas as being pagan.  I gave encouragement for people to celebrate Hanukah instead of christmas.  I did not say it was a sin or necessarily wrong to celebrate christmas but merely showed the origins and provided an alternative.  I got more negative responses to that email than any email I sent out.  hmmm.   I wonder why?  I felt compelled to share more on the Feast of Dedication.

BACKGROUND

Feast of Dedication Feast of Dedication (Heb. hanukka). In 1 Macc. 4:52-59 it is called "the dedication of the altar," and by Josephus (Ant. 12.7.7) "the feast of lights." It was a popular and joyous festival commemorating the purifying of the Temple, the removal of the old polluted altar, and the restoration of the worship of Jehovah by Judas Maccabeus, 164 BC. This feast began on the 25th Chislev (December) and lasted eight days but did not require attendance at Jerusalem. Assembled in the Temple or in the synagogues of the places where they resided, the Jews sang "Hallel," carrying palm and other branches; and there was a grand illumination of the Temple and private houses. The origin of the illumination of the Temple is unknown, although tradition says that when the sacred "lampstands" of the restored Temple were to be lighted only one flagon of oil, sealed with the signet of the high priest, was found to feed the lamps. This was pure oil, but only sufficient for one day-- when by a miracle the oil increased, and the flagon remained filled for eight days, in memory of which the Temple and private houses were ordered to be illuminated for the same period. No public mourning or fast was allowed on account of calamity or bereavement. The festival did not require anyone to abstain partially or completely from his ordinary occupation, and unlike some other celebrations it was not marked by a holy assembly at the beginning and the end. The celebration was always of a joyous, exuberant character which commemorated the restoration of the worship of the Temple (1 Macc. 4:41-49). The similarity between this festival and the "feast of Booths" would seem to indicate some intended connection between the two. Without doubt, Jesus attended this festival at Jerusalem (Jn 10:22).
 

CHRISTIANS NEED TO UNDERSTAND HANUKAH

Here are some simple ideas I pulled off the web.

There is much in the feast which tells us of Yeshua (Jesus), and as you go through it, you will see certain parallelisms. Because the Biblical Feasts are dated from the lunar calendar, this year in 2008, Hanukkah's first night of the 8 nights, started this year on Friday, December 11. (The Biblical calendar expresses it as the 25th day of \the month Kislev). We will give a brief summary first, and then the practical tips will be listed below that.
Brief History: Hanukkah's other names are the Festival of Lights or the Feast of Dedication. This feast commemorates the victory of the Maccabees over the wicked Greek King Antiochus and the Hellenistic Syrians, who were trying to force Jews to bow down to idols, and to stop all Jewish rituals. In 168BCE they seized the Jewish temple, and used it for worshiping Zeus. Some Jews were so full of fear that they did not retaliate; but a small yet tough Jewish family called the Maccabees, led by the priestly Hasmoneans, revolted at Modi'in, and stood up for righteousness, thereby saving the Jewish race. One of them called Mattathius, rose up and slew a fellow Jew who had weakened by offering to comply to pagan worship, thereby betraying the Jews. Mattathius also killed the Greek officer who had demanded Jews worship idols and eat pig, both of which are forbidden in the Torah. (If he had not done this, the Jews would have been wiped out, and our Jewish Messiah Yeshua would never have been born to save us.) After this brave encounter, they found much destruction in the temple, so in 165BCE they cleaned it up and rededicated the ransacked temple that Antiochus had used to put a non-"kosher" pig on the altar. The idea of lighting the candles comes from the fact that a real miracle happened after the Maccabees found only one flask of oil left to light the damaged temple "m'norrah", and it actually stayed lit for 8 days amidst great celebrations!
To Christians, it has a special significance, in that Yeshua (Jesus) was conceived during Hanukkah as the Light of the World! (He was born 9 months later at "Sukkot" - the Feast of Tabernacles). Apparently, the "Magnificat" (Lk.21:46) that Miriam (Mary) sang in response to the Angel Gavriel (Gabriel's) announcement that she would mother a child named Yeshua, was part of the ancient liturgy for Hanukkah itself!
Do try to keep your commemoration of the event separate from Christmas. That is easy to do when the dates do not collide.
Here are some guidelines as to how you can celebrate Hanukkah nightly right in your home.
 
1)      Buy or make a "hanukkiah" (haw-noo-KEE-yah). That's a 8 or 9 sticked candelabra. Buy enough candles for lighting fresh ones each of the 8 nights = 72. They don't have to be big ones - the little ones are available at Jewish stores, and sometimes at supermarkets. You can buy a "hanukkiah" from a Jewish store on-line. Sometimes you can find them in second-hand stores too.
 
2)      At nightfall, appoint someone (even a child) to light the first candle (it also can be just you yourself!) - and light the end candle first. Look up the Hanukkah prayers on http://www.chabad.org/holidays/chanukah/article_cdo/aid/103874/jewish/Blessings.htm
After this, put out your match and use the end candle, the "shamash" (sha-MASH) , the "servant candle" to light the first candle. (Sometimes it's on the extreme right and sometimes it stands in the centre by itself. Put the "shamash" back into its place. And then stop - don't blow out either candle!) That's all you light the first night. The second night, you add one more, and then the third night, the third one as well, till the last night when ALL the candles are lit - still by the "shamash" which lights all the rest throughout the week - not the SAME candle, as it is fresh each night. To us as Christians, we see the parallelism in our Messiah Yeshua Who took upon Himself to be a servant to us all, Who "lights" up our lives!
 
3)       Recite the "hallel" - Ps. 11-118.
 

4)      Sing a Hannukah song. Download these from the Internet. Here's one - http://www.chabad.org/holidays/chanukah/article_cdo/aid/600995/jewish/Maoz-Tzur.htm
It has a recording, and Hebrew and English words written out below. Or sing any worship song you know that has to do with LIGHT or DEDICATION or STANDING strong. Merla Watson has written several songs for Christians to sing at Hanukkah - here's one called "Father of Lights". Look it up on our web site: www.mervandmerla.coIt's listed under "New Messianic Songs" in a book with many feast songs in it.
 
5)      Cook the traditional food (Google this = Hannukah traditional food or recipes), or order from a Jewish delicatessen or supermarket grocery store ahead of time. First the "latkes" (LAT-kuz) = shredded potato pancakes served with homemade apple sauce, and "suvgani'ot" (soov-ga-nee-OHT) = jelly filled donuts. Recipes of both can be found on the Internet. Just Google it. Lots of folks have a "latke" making party beforehand or as even part of their party the same night..
 
6)      Traditionally, small gifts are exchanged during this time as well.
 
7)      Find a small "dreidel" (special spinning top) at a Jewish store, or order one on-line. It has a big Hebrew letter on each side of its square sides, which is an acronym of 4 Hebrew alphabet letters standing for: "A big miracle happened there!" During the time of persecution in ancient history, while the Jews were really studying Torah, if they heard the Greek soldiers at the door, they quickly snatched their "dreidels" from their pockets, pretending to be playing with them, and not reading Torah. There are "dreidel" games and other Hanukkah games on the Internet.
 
8)      Appoint someone to read the story of Hannukah. Download one rendition from the internet.
 
9)      If you are part of a community, you could have the festivities at a different home each night.
 
10)    Try to involve kids as much as possible - in the lighting of the "Hannukiah", in baking cookies, in helping with the cooking or baking, in singing along with the songs, and in playing games with the "dreidel".
And by the way, Hanukkah is not pronounced "han" as in our word "hand" but you pronounce it "haw" as in "HOLLow".  So it would sound "HAW=noo-kaw".  Even better if you can do a guttural sound for the first "H" - like the German "iCH" or the Scottish "LOCH Lomond".  THERE!  You HAVE it!
You can find other information about Hanukkah on our web site under the BLOG button or under the FEASTS button.
www.mervandmerla.com
That's it! HAPPY HANUKKAH