Can/Should Christians celebrate Hanukkah?

Discussion in 'Christian Issues' started by Blizzard, Nov 20, 2013.

  1. Blizzard

    Blizzard Member

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    How do you feel about Christians or people from other cultures/belief systems celebrating holidays from other groups, Hanukkah in particular. I had posted a comment somewhere else about always wanting to celebrate Hanukkah, even though we aren't Jewish, but never had the time. Someone else posted that it was "culturally appropriative." It really threw me back, because I had never thought about it that way. I just thought it would be a good cultural experience for my kids, especially considering I had a wonderful memory of celebrating Passover in Kindergarten.

    I've always thought that celebrating holidays from other cultures and parts of the world was a good way to help understand the people. Even though the experience wouldn't have the same meaning for us as it would for the people that traditionally celebrate those days, I still think it would be a culturally sensitive thing. Am I wrong?
     
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  3. Jackie

    Jackie Active Member

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    Christianity's roots are based in Judaism. Messianic Jews would probably celebrate Hanukkah; I know they celebrate the Jewish holidays set up in the Bible. As such, I see no reason NOT to celebrate Hanukkah.
     
  4. kbabe1968

    kbabe1968 New Member

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    Why do you care what others would think about it! Sorry, but if you want to celebrate Hanukkah with your kids so that they have an understanding of the holiday and the culture, do it. :) Just my opinion.
     
  5. AngeC325

    AngeC325 New Member

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    I see nothing wrong with celebrating holidays from other cultures. I am not planning to celebrate Hanukkah exactly, but I do think it will be interesting to know more about it and I checked out a bunch of book at the library on Monday :)
     
  6. Minthia

    Minthia Active Member

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    I think it will give your kids a broader perspective of the world and other religions and cultures. I see nothing wrong with it. In fact we have been making a list of other religion and culture holidays and we plan to start implementing some of them.
     
  7. Jackie

    Jackie Active Member

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    I do think there is a difference between taking part in celebrations worshipping false gods, and learning about other religions. That's a line you need to determine for yourself and your family, and it might be different for each of us.
     
  8. Lindina

    Lindina Active Member

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    Yeah, what Jackie said! Our church has in the past done a Passover Seder (we had a Jewish Christian member at the time who helped "get it right"). Some of the ladies crocheted yarmulkes for the guys (which later translated into "coasters"). I think it's good to celebrate what Jesus celebrated -- helps some folks remember that Jesus was Jewish...

    I'm not too certain about the religious festivals of SOME cultures, though, because I may not be too certain where the line is between (as Jackie said) understanding a culture and worshiping false gods. Wouldn't want to celebrate something without thoroughly understanding where the line is first.
     
  9. Jackie

    Jackie Active Member

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    We had a difficult enough time attending my dss's wedding, because my dil is Pagan in her beliefs. Needless to say, I don't consider the spirit she worships the same one as I believe in!!! But we also felt it was more important at that time to maintain a bridge between her and us, and our not attending the wedding would possibly burn that bridge.
     
  10. Lindina

    Lindina Active Member

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    Jackie, I don't consider weddings where another (other than Christian) religious tradition is, to be "voluntary" -- like in your case, it can be pretty much mandatory. It doesn't mean you're celebrating or worshiping some other deity. It's supporting family (over whom you hope to have some future positive influence) by maintaining family ties, not creating boundaries of hard feelings. Even religious weddings are (I feel) more of a social event than a religious event.

    I wouldn't have much difficulty attending a wedding of that sort, as much as I would deliberately choosing for my own household to celebrate some foreign deity.
     
  11. Jackie

    Jackie Active Member

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    That's sort of how we looked at it. Especially since her mil wasn't being supportive at all, and we had strongly encouraged their marriage (since they already had two children, and it was something they really did want to do!). I think (and Rachael agreed) that it would have been a real slap in the face to NOT attend.
     
  12. Lindina

    Lindina Active Member

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    There are tons of public (street) festivals, which I wouldn't mind "attending" (walk down the street, eat some street food, observe what people do...) without "participating" but sometimes you can't tell just from observing what the participants might call "a religious act" that doesn't look to us like one. I would have to research some before I would just follow a custom because everyone at the festival is doing it.

    OTOH, if I were purposely choosing some holiday for my family to celebrate in our home that we had never celebrated before, for the purpose of expanding our cultural outlook, I would research into it carefully and know whether it's a cultural or a religious thing. For instance, like our own Fourth of July, or more like our own Christmas or Easter.
     
  13. Blizzard

    Blizzard Member

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    It hasn't changed my mind about celebrating, if anything it has brought it up more prominently in my mind. You know, it was just something I was thinking about a little bit, but now I can't stop thinking about it! lol

    I really just wanted to discuss the idea in general, because I had never considered that some people might find it offensive.

    I totally agree with being careful which holidays and traditions to celebrate, and the difference between celebrating and just learning about them. Personally, I'm comfortable with the Jewish holidays because they have so much Biblical symbolism and history intertwined with everything. They have always fascinated me with the way that everything tells a story, and the people who really celebrate know the meanings behind everything.

    It makes me feel a bit guilty about some of the things we do on our holidays, which become traditions that we just do, without thinking about what everything means and symbolizes. Really, days like Christmas and Easter have become a mash of different beliefs from the past, especially pagan. We either have to weed out the things that we believe in, or give the "gray" things a different meaning.
     
  14. azhomeschooler

    azhomeschooler New Member

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    It is interesting to read this this morning since my 9 year old just asked me yesterday if we could celebrate Hanukkah. I told him that is a Jewish holiday and we celebrate the Christian holiday of Christmas. He said he was just curious. We have read books about it in the past as we did sort of a Christmas around the world. You have given me something to think about...
     
  15. Blizzard

    Blizzard Member

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  16. Jackie

    Jackie Active Member

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    I wasn't referring to Jewish holidays, and I sure don't want to come across condemning what other chose. And you are very right when it comes to Christmas and Easter. OUCH!!!

    I did live with a Muslim girl for a summer when I was in college. She celebrated Ramadan, which was difficult because she was an AWESOME cook, and it was summer, so she wouldn't be cooking until very late at night.... But at the end, she invited us to join her in the feast, which we did. And I feel it was right for me to do that. It wasn't a celebration of Allah to me, but an opportunity for me to understand her way of life.
     
  17. Lindina

    Lindina Active Member

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    Joining someone for dinner -- I don't think that would be a big problem for me! Jewish, Muslim, Hindu... whatever. Didn't Paul say, don't ask where the food comes from, whether it was offered to idols before it got to you. It's unimportant because the idols are nothing. But if seeing you eat it causes a weaker Christian to sin, then don't do it.

    I would have no problem celebrating any Jewish holiday, because Jesus celebrated them all. But I would have to do some research on Bahai, or Sikh, or tribal, or Cambodian ... whatever holidays I'm less familiar with (and that's a lot).

    And yeah, Christmas and Easter.... things that make you go "hmmm".
     
  18. Blizzard

    Blizzard Member

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    Don't worry Jackie, I knew what you meant. :) I have to claim total ignorance when it comes to most non-Americanized holidays, with a minimal exception of some of the Jewish holidays, but I'd really like to change that, especially for my children. I think it would make a good educational and conversational experience, considering we could discuss them and then decide which ones we would celebrate or not, and why.
     
  19. kbabe1968

    kbabe1968 New Member

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    Okay, I have to go back to what I said. I wasn't necessarily commenting on participating in rituals with FALSE gods, when you KNOW they are false. But for CHRISITIANS, studying and participating in Jewish ceremony is different than participating in Muslim, Wiccan, Etc. The Christian God and the Jewish God are one and the same.

    I certainly would not recommend participating in Ramadaan or Hindu festivals, etc. BUT, studying Hanukkah, Passover, Yom Kippur, etc….helps us understand the roots of Christianity.

    MY PErSONAL OPINION. :)
     
  20. monkeysmum

    monkeysmum New Member

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    I wonder who this person thought would be offended? For whose culture is it inappropriate? I'm sure no Jewish person would mind if others celebrate their customs. And if you don't mind, then who does? I'm sure your God is inclusive and cares more about you being a nice person, than you celebrating other celebrations? I'm sure this God would only be offended if you celebrated another culture in a rude way?

    I don't know, I'm pagan and celebrate whatever I want cause I don't need to worry about any spirit other than my own and those of my fellow beings. We're all one and connected! I think being nice, inclusive, respectful and all those sort of things are more important.

    Allah is the same god as the one the Christians and Jewish people worship. Read the Koran and you'll know. Allah just means Father in a different language.
     
  21. Jackie

    Jackie Active Member

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    Monkeysmum, the issue is that, for a Christian, Allah is NOT the same god as the one Christians and Jewish people worship. The Koran considers Christ a Prophet, but not the Messiah. Christianity isn't "all inclusive". And, while God does want us to be "nice", we can never be "nice enough" to merit His favor. That is why He sent His son to die for us. (My very lovely dil is Pagan, btw!)
     

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