Hannukah and Christmas - An explanation for my non-Jewish friends
Thursday, December 11, 2008 by DrJBHL | Discussion: Community
2. Christmas is a major holiday. Chanukah is a minor holiday with the same theme as most Jewish holidays: They tried to kill us, we survived, let's eat.
3. Christians get wonderful presents such as jewelry, perfume, stereos, etc. Jews get practical presents, books, etc., and mostly gifts for the children.
4. There is only one way to spell Christmas. No one can decide how to spell Chanukah, Chanukkah, Chanukka, Channukah, Hanukah, Hannukah, etc. (in Hebrew there's only one way to spell it, not that it helps us any explaining why there are so many spellings).
5. Christmas is a time of great pressure for husbands and boyfriends. Their partners expect special gifts. Jewish men are relieved of that burden. No one expects a diamond ring on Hanukah.
6. Christmas brings enormous electric bills. Candles are used for Chanukah. Not only are we spared enormous electric bills, but we get to feel good about not contributing to the energy crisis.
7. Christmas carols are beautiful...Silent Night, Come All Ye Faithful. Chanukah songs are about dreidels made from clay or having a party and dancing the hora. Of course, we are secretly pleased that many of the beautiful carols were composed and written by our tribal brethren. And don't Barbara Streisand and Neil Diamond sing them beautifully?
8. A home preparing for Christmas smells wonderful like the sweet smell of cookies and cakes baking. Happy people are gathered around in festive moods. A home preparing for Chanukah smells of oil, potatoes and onions. The home, as always, is full of loud people all talking at once.
9. Christian women have fun baking Christmas cookies. Jewish women burn their eyes and cut their hands grating potatoes and onions for latkes (potato pancakes) on Chanukah. Another reminder of our suffering through the ages.
10. The players in the Christmas story have easy to pronounce names such as Mary, Joseph and Jesus. The players in the Chanukah story are Antiochus, Judah Maccabee and Mattatiahu whatever. No one can spell it or pronounce it. On the plus side, we can tell our friends anything and they believe we are wonderfully versed in our history.
11. In recent years, Christmas has become more and more commercialized. The same holds true for Chanukah, even though it is a minor holiday. It makes sense. How could we market a major holiday such as Yom Kippur (The Day of Atonement)? Forget about celebrating. Think observing. Come to synagogue, starve yourself for 27 hours, become one with your dehydrated soul, beat your chest, confess your sins, a guaranteed good time for you and your family. Tickets a mere $200 per person. Better stick with Chanukah. However you spell it.
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Reply #62 Wednesday, November 25, 2009 8:43 PM
I enjoy them too... i'm amazed Jewish music is still such an active field...I hope I'm not overstepping when I wish you a "Chag Sameach".
Reply #63 Friday, December 11, 2009 4:40 PM
Holiday Bump
A year has come and gone....and tonite I light the first candle, again.
I will be thinking of all my friends here, and I wish you all a happy Holiday season....
Link to the Hanukkah and Friends Holiday Suite
Link to The WC Community Holiday Suite
Reply #65 Friday, December 11, 2009 5:16 PM
LOL... I was just adding the link to the Suite!
Thank you, sweety (Suitey?) ...... you little Pastafarian, you! 
Reply #66 Friday, December 11, 2009 5:54 PM
Doc, I've just spent two days putting up Christmas trees (3), lights - indoor and outside plus numerous seasonal ornaments and geegaws, santas, snowmen and snow women. Presents to wrap yet - who invented grandchildren??? Oh for Hannukah with it's 7 candles! Happy holidays Doc.! 
Reply #67 Friday, December 11, 2009 6:01 PM
Happy Hannukah Seth. Did you light a candle on the dream?
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Reply #61 Wednesday, November 25, 2009 7:25 PM
My favorite Chanukah band is David & the High Spirit. The “Real Complete Happy Hanukka Party” made it on the “Best Chanukah Music” list! http://www.ranker.com/list/chanukah-music/christmas-music