It is that time of year again! The days become shorter, the nights grow longer, and there is a coldness in the air that never seems to leave. Autumn is on its journey to its peak as the Earth prepares for a cold and quiet winter. Aside from the Sabbath, which is never ending, the appointed times of the Lord have come to an end until next spring. While the Saints wait until the next Passover and its new year, there is a mid-autumn/winter festival that takes place during the November-December months.
This festival is called Hanukkah. Hanukkah, also known the Festival of Lights or Festival of Dedication, is an 8 day celebration of the recovery of Jerusalem and rededication of the Second Temple, and commemorates the Maccabean victories over the forces of the Seleucid king Antiochus IV Epiphanes. Hanukkah is not a "Jewish Christmas" as some assume. This festival is about family, freedom to worship the one true God of Israel, and light.
In this series, I will cover necessary information for people who wish to learn about and celebrate Hanukkah. Information on Hanukkah includes:
Origins of Hanukkah
Messianic significance
Festival traditions
How to decorate
The miracle of Hanukkah
How is that for a first blog entry? I am so excited to share the beauty of Hanukkah with you all. Stay tuned for the next post!