This year we decided to celebrate Hanukkah instead of Christmas. The hardest part of this decision is explaining to family and close friends that you are not celebrating Christmas! "What? Not celebrating the birth of Christ?" they asked, “No, we are not converting to Judaism!” we explained! The easiest explanation is to say “We’re following Jesus, and Jesus would have celebrated Hanukkah .” From John 10:22-23 we can see that the Messiah Himself celebrated Hanukkah. During both the Feast of Tabernacles and the Feast of Dedication (Hanukkah) it was customary for the whole temple to be illuminated with bright illuminations, and with just such a background Jesus said; "I am the light of the world; he that follows Me will not walk in darkness but shall have the light of life."

Hanukkah is not a feast appointed by God in Leviticus. In short, the eight-day Festival of Lights commemorates the Maccabees' victory over the oppressive Syrian king, and the miracle that occurred after the Jews regained their temple. The victors found enough purified oil to keep the temple's candles burning for only one day. But the oil lasted for eight days, allowing them to purify more. But perhaps the greater miracle is that the small relatively weak group of Jews defeated the vast, strong forces of Antiochus. The key historical point as it relates to Messianic fulfillment is that Hanukkah is a celebration of deliverance. It has to the Jewish community, become a time to express Messianic hope. One Jewish publication says; "Then, the light is kindled to give inspiration, for the light of Messiah must burn brightly in our hearts" (Chanukah, Mesorah Publications)

But what about Christmas? The day the world celebrates Christ’s birth. Shouldn’t we celebrate the birth of the Messiah? Without getting into the origins of Christmas and its traditions, I’d like to focus on information that points to when Jesus was actually born. The evidence is that He came to dwell among us on the Feast of Tabernacles. The following are excerpts from the book titled Israel’s Feasts and their Fullness by Batya Ruth Wootten:

• Tabernacles is especially known as the “Season of Our Joy.” When the angels announced to the shepherds the birth of our Messiah, they said, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people” (Luke 2:10).

• According to Jewish tradition, a prayer was recited on the first day of the feast that says, “Glory to God in the Heavens and on the earth peace and good will towards the earth.” This clearly is similar to the passage in Luke that describes the angels proclaiming, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased” (Luke 2:14).

On the feast of Tabernacles devout Jews from all the nations were commanded to come to Jerusalem for the feast. The inns and dwelling placer were overcrowded with multitudes. Since Bethlehem was so close to Jerusalem, it absorbed the overflow. As the Scripture says, “and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn" (Luke 2:7).

The Gospel accounts tell us that the shepherds were in the fields tending their flocks. However shepherds do not tend flocks outside in the cold of a Bethlehem winter. Their flocks were brought in and were sheltered in caves during the winter months.

Jewish tradition states that the sheep to be sacrificed at Tabernacles were kept in the fields for seven days and sacrificed on the eighth day. It is only on the Feast of Tabernacles that the flocks were commanded to stay out all night, the rest of the time the sheep were brought in at night.

We know from the Gospel accounts that Joseph and Mary went to Bethlehem because of the census. Historical records show that the Romans would generally conduct a census sometime between August and October. This was an ideal time because the crops had been harvested and the people were finished with their usual duties. They were free to celebrate the feast of Tabernacles, and many were already traveling. Shepherds were in the fields watching their birthing flocks.

The Book of Luke recounts the story of the priest named Zechariah who was ministering in the Temple, and who had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, named Elizabeth. Zechariah was “of the division of Abijah,” and he was “performing his priestly service before God in the appointed order of his division.” This order is outlined in 1 Chronicles 24:10. Thus, we know that Zechariah served in the Temple from approximately June 1 to June 8 (Luke 1:5-25).

An angel of God named Gabriel appeared to Zechariah and told him his wife would have a son. Although he and his wife were both very old, after his priestly service Elizabeth became pregnant. It can be calculated from this information that their son, John the Baptist, was born at Passover.

In Elizabeth’s sixth month of pregnancy (Luke 1:36), the angel Gabriel told a virgin named Miriam (Mary) that she would be the mother of the Messiah when the Holy Spirit came upon her. This would have been in December, and then, nine months later, in September, she gave birth to a baby named Yeshua (Jesus). Scriptural evidence shows that John was born at Passover, and Yeshua’s (Jesus’) birth six months later would have been around the time of Tabernacles.

That is why the Gospel of John tells us “the Word was made flesh and dwelt [tabernacled] among us” (John 1:14). Therefore, the Feast of Tabernacles fittingly symbolized God dwelling among us as a man.

Although there is more evidence regarding when Jesus was born, I hope the above ignites a curiosity for finding out more information for when Jesus was born. We look forward to celebrating His birth next year during the Feasts of Tabernacles.

Today, we look forward to celebrating Hanukkah. And to quote Michael Detwiler in his article The Story of the First Hanukkah:

Hanukkah reminds us that God is a God of miracles, not just of concept and religious ideals. He has broken through into human history and continues to do so today. All of us who know Yeshua (Jesus) can speak of God's working in our lives. As we light the Hanukkah lights this year, may they proclaim to all who see that the Light of the World has come and is at work in our lives--not just in times long ago, but today as well.

References:
http://www.ehow.com/how_5635_celebrate-hanukkah.html
http://www.thetribulationforce.com/page2hanukkahservice.htm
Michael Detwiler, The Story of the First Hanukkah

For another article about Hanukkah from 2007 click here: "HANUKKAH--A Festival of LIGHT to the World!"