Despite the fact that the observance of Chanukah involves the lighting of candles and Christmas has become known for his performances lights, often Jews and Christians alike find themselves spiritually in the dark during the winter holidays. It's hard to feel enlightened by holiday observance when meaningful or spiritual components of these holy days have been left in a hurry to purchase, giving and receiving gifts alone. In fact, opening presents turns into an empty action when giving and receiving that is not accompanied by overall holiday atmosphere and attitude meaningful and spiritual.
While the second story of the Jewish and Christian holidays revolve around the miracle, which means they stress the hand of God in human affairs, many people observe Christmas and Hanukkah to find this holiday has become less about religion and spirituality and more about consumerism. To the Jews faced in each of the Christmas decorations, music, gifts, parties, and messages, Chanukah, holidays that historically has not been time for the prize, has turned into a competition with Christmas rather than remembering a battle for religious freedom and the miracle of oil lamps. For many Christians, Christmas has become more about home decorations, Santa Claus and shopping for gifts than about the miraculous birth of Jesus or a connection to their faith.
Just like Maccabi fought back against Syria's desire to assimilate them into their religion and way of life, today Jews and Christians who want to get more out of the winter holidays than presents must fight to find a way to give meaning and spirituality back into Chanukah and Christmas. When we find our holiday rituals, like lighting Hanukkah candles or setting up our Christmas tree without meaning or spiritual context, we can take steps to alter the empty celebration of our being 'full of meaning and spirit-full' rituals and traditions. It is possible to embed the lighting of the candles of Hanukkah or Christmas gifts with meaning and to make a ritual of spiritual practice for ourselves and for the whole family.
