Hanukkah

If you are looking for a way to celebrate with your family during the Christmas Season, but are not wanting to celebrate the traditional way you normally do, with the Santa Clause and reindeers, you might try celebrating Hanukkah.  I didn't know much about this Jewish celebration until I studied the books of Maccabees.  Hanukkah is celebrated for 8 days.  Each day a candle is lit on the Menorah, which is a large candelabra with nine candles.  The middle candle is used to light the other eight.
This festival is known as the Festival of Illumination or Festival of Lights.  During these eight days, presents are sometimes given and Jewish games with the dradle are played.  This Holiday is rich in Jewish History and teaches an unforgettable story about courage and severe religious persecution.  The devil has been unrelenting in trying to kill these precious people, just like he tried to kill our glorious Messiah when he worked through wicked King Herod in slaughtering numerous babies to stop Yah's royal plans from going forth. Here is a video to encourage you to research this Holiday and to stir up your interest.   If you have not read the books of Maccabees, you can read it here and here.
During the rule of Antiochus Epiphanes is when things started to get really bad.  He invaded Egypt and desecrated Jerusalem.  He forced the people to worship foreign gods, and he even outlawed Judaism.  People who were caught practicing things relating to their religion were killed.
He burned houses and pulled down walls.  He defiled the temple, carried away the instruments used in worship, and even sacrifice a pig on the altar. In around 168bc he even went further by seizing the Jewish Temple and dedicating it to the pagan god of zeus.  He went even further by setting up the idol of zeus in the temple.
A Courageous man name Mattathias led a revolt with his 5 sons.  The battle raged on for 3 years and eventually, the Jews got the victory under Mattathias's son Judah Maccabee.  He recaptured Jerusalem and liberated the temple around 165bc.
A legend is told that they went to ignite the Menorah in order to rededicate the temple, but found the oil had been defiled.  There was only enough oil to light the Menorah for one night, but miraculously it stayed lit for 8 nights until more oil could be produced.  If you would like to find out the prophetic meaning behind Hanukkah and more information about this day then please watch here and here.
Also, I have learned that the 8 branched Menorah used in Hannukkah that has a ninth branch to light the 8 branches is called a Hanukkiah just so you know.