Why are Protestants celebrating Hanukkah?

Last week, Mike Huckabee, the U.S. Ambassador to Israel, posted a photo of himself and his wife lighting a menorah for Hanukkah.

But Huckabee is an evangelical Christian…so why is he celebrating a Jewish holiday?

Some said it’s just because he’s the ambassador to Israel, but this isn’t unique to Huckabee. Evangelical Protestants frequently adopt Jewish customs like Seder meals at Easter, menorahs at Christmas, or Hebrew phrases in worship music.

Their stated reason is to practice the traditions Jesus practiced.

But the irony is that Jesus came to fulfill those traditions, not preserve them forever.

Historical Christianity (read: Catholicism) has plenty of traditions to choose from. Why celebrate with Jewish traditions instead of Christian ones?

The Evangelical search for tradition

This Protestant attraction to Jewish tradition is an example of something Catholics have known for a long time: liturgy is natural to human beings.

We need tradition. We crave it. Protestants, especially evangelicals, are splinters of splinters of splinters—about as far from high-church liturgy as you can get. Yet they still feel that infused desire for ritual and rhythm.

The problem is that they are reaching backward to Judaism while ignoring the Christian traditions that already exist.

Instead of lighting a menorah during Hanukkah—which often falls during Advent—why not light an Advent wreath? You have the same symbolism: light piercing darkness. But the Advent wreath points directly to the coming of Christ, not to the shadow of what Christ fulfilled.

Hanukkah celebrates the rededication of the temple—a temple that no longer exists and, according to Christ himself, was meant to be destroyed. That temple was always pointing forward to something greater: the temple of Christ’s body, resurrected and in heaven.

Christians already have a way of celebrating that resurrected temple. It’s called the Mass.

There’s no theological reason for Christians to celebrate the dedication of a destroyed temple. Jewish holidays symbolize waiting and preparation for the Messiah. But the Messiah already came.

Advent, like Hanukkah, happens during the darkest time of year. As the days grow shorter and darkness increases, both Jews and Christians light candles. The difference is that Jews celebrate the finite light that lasted for 8 days. We celebrate an eternal light that is established forever, Jesus Christ.

Hanukkah had its merits. It celebrated the temple, which was a foreshadowing of Christ. But now Christ is here, and we don’t need the old temple.

Advent candles represent Christ’s light directly, not the Menorah candles, which are representations of representations of Christ’s light. Protestants lighting menorahs are using symbols of symbols of Christ. Catholics lighting Advent wreaths are using symbols of Christ himself.

Why settle for the copy when you have the original?

We need liturgy

The one thing that has not changed from the time of the old temple to now is the need for liturgy. Human beings need liturgy, and we need tradition. It’s how we mark time, prepare our hearts, and remember what matters.

Evangelical Protestants looking to Judaism for tradition proves this. But it also reveals what’s been lost when you sever yourself from 2,000 years of Christian practice.

Catholics light Advent candles because these rhythms focus us on the purpose of the season: celebrating the birth of the Messiah and preparing for His Second Coming.

Christians of all denominations need to rediscover the historical Christian (read: Catholic) traditions that were discarded over the last five centuries since the Reformation. Those traditions had a purpose, and without them, Christians are forced to create a patchwork tradition that does not fit the truths of our faith.