GlassOnion said:
Rofl. I liked that.
I didn't know that. I figured it was like Christmas (symbolically) and the 7 candles or whatever (I don't know how many are on that chandelabra) represented...something. Like the three wisemen or something.
LOL, man...you are so off...
the 'legend' of chanukah is something like this (real short version) greeks didnt like the jewish way of life so they defiled the temple, stole most of the oil that kept the menorah burning (which was VERY important to them jews) ....so, once the jews fought back, they wanted to make sure the light kept burning, but only found enough oil to light a candle for one day, it lasted 8, enough time for them to get more oil.....yay
now, there are all sorts of theories on what 'actually' happened....this is what i got taught (and since i have a crappy memory, and im supposed to be studying, im about to give a REAL rough version)
Jews were very oppressed (duh, lol)...group called the maccabbees rose up and fought with forks and shovels and sticks, defeated an army (they were basically gureilla fighting, or whatev its called)...
so they overthrew the greeks (well, not like, took over, but i think they just go their way or something)
Now, in order to celebrate this, since jews were like, CONSTANTLY under oppression, and didnt have their own country, they couldnt be all like "YAY, we are so cool, we are rebellious and overthrow governments"...cause then whosever power they were under would be like "dude, watch those jews, you never know when they are gonna get all sneaky and attack us.."
so they kinda hid the fact that they did that, and just told the legend above in temple, so no one would hear the 'real' story and get all suspicious...
chanukah isnt in the torah...it was never supposed to be about giving gifts...and that only occurs in places like the US where christmas made lil jewish kiddies jealous, cause they wanted gifts too!!
and do not quote me on any of that...i could be really wrong, lol...the concept is right, but yea...