8 Misconceptions I Had About Chanukkah Before Becoming Jewish

By Meg Okura

As an immigrant and a convert, navigating the transition wasn’t always easy—I uncovered hundreds of misconceptions about countless things along the way. Here are my top 8 about Chanukkah. Have you or your family ever held similar beliefs?

I used to think Chanukkah was just the Jewish version of Christmas. The only real similarity, though, is that they both happen in winter—well, most of the time. In the past ten years as a Jew, I’ve celebrated Chanukkah during Thanksgiving and even New Year’s Eve. This variability in timing was just one of the many surprises I discovered about Chanukkah after becoming Jewish.

Chanukkah is one of the most public-facing Jewish holidays, yet much of its meaning and traditions are often misunderstood—especially by people like me, who didn’t grow up Jewish. Here are eight misconceptions I had about Chanukkah and the lessons I’ve learned along the way.

1. Chanukkah Is Like Christmas for Jewish People—A Big Jewish Holiday

Growing up in Japan, I had never even heard of Chanukkah, and when I got to New York City, I thought it was the Jewish version of Christmas. Sure, I knew Jesus wasn’t part of Judaism, (even though Jesus himself was a Jew), but I assumed the holidays were comparable in importance. Living in New York, Chanukkiot (plural for Chanukkiah) were everywhere, displayed prominently alongside giant Christmas trees. A Chanukkiah is a special nine-branched candelabra used during Chanukkah. It’s different from the seven-branched menorah often seen in Jewish art or synagogues. The Chanukkiah holds eight candles for each night of the holiday, plus a ninth, called the shamash, used to light the others. I didn’t realize they were lit one night at a time for precisely eight nights. Honestly, I wasn’t paying much attention to the details.

Turns out, Chanukkah is far from being a major Jewish holiday like Passover or Yom Kippur. Its prominence in public spaces owes more to its calendar overlap with Christmas than its actual significance in Jewish life.

2. The Chanukkiah Is Just a Decoration

I used to think people put their Chanukkiot in windows to show off pretty lights, like Christmas decorations. When I learned it’s actually a declaration of Jewish identity, it hit me deeply. The act of placing a Chanukkiah in the window is about proudly displaying who we are, even in the face of adversity.

Last year, for the first time, I hesitated to put ours in the window. With antisemitism becoming more socially acceptable—and even fashionable—I felt the weight of that decision. Ultimately, we lit it in the window, reminding ourselves that while staying safe is the priority, non-assimilation remains a core Jewish value.

3. Chanukkah Is a Biblical Holiday

Like many people, I assumed Chanukkah was biblical—after all, so much of Jewish culture is tied to religious texts. But no, Chanukkah is a post-biblical holiday rooted in Jewish history and resilience.

I love that Judaism includes cultural holidays like Chanukkah alongside its religious ones. It reflects the richness of Jewish identity, where faith, culture, and community intertwine.

4. The Dreidel Is Just a Top

To the untrained eye, a dreidel might look like any other spinning top, but it’s actually quite different. My husband once explained that the uneven weight distribution of a dreidel—due to its handle and engraved sides—causes it to spin with a wobble. This makes it unpredictable, perfect for a game that relies on chance.

We even make edible dreidels at home, using marshmallows, pretzel sticks, and chocolate kisses. They’re fun, but they don’t spin! 

5. Gelt Is Secular

As a kid, I never thought chocolate coins could be tied to any religion, growing up in a strict protestant family. Money was secular. Learning that they symbolize the tradition of giving real coins to children for studying Torah—and that they’re used in dreidel games during Chanukkah—gave them a whole new dimension.

At first, I found it funny that a holiday tradition involved gambling, but then I learned its historical roots: playing dreidel was a clever way to disguise Torah study during oppression. It’s a reminder that survival often requires ingenuity—and sometimes, a little spin of the dreidel.

6. Chanukkah Gifts vs. Christmas Gifts

When we first converted to Judaism, the idea of giving eight gifts overwhelmed me. Growing up, my parents didn’t do Christmas gifts, so this felt extravagant. Thankfully, I learned that most families give practical gifts on most nights—like socks or books—saving “real” gifts for one or two nights.

That first year, I wrapped up socks, books, and educational toys for our daughter. She loved it, and I realized Chanukkah gifts are more about thoughtfulness than excess. Now that she’s older, we’ve stopped doing eight gifts altogether, but those early years taught us how to be practical and resourceful, and put focus on time with family than materials.

7. We Love Fried Food

One of my favorite parts of Chanukkah is the excuse to eat fried food. While many of us prefer to avoid fried foods for health reasons, I embrace them during Chanukkah. My Okonomi Latke—a fusion of Japanese okonomiyaki and traditional latkes—is my go-to dish. It’s crispy, savory, and a delicious reflection of my blended identity.

Chanukkah foods center around oil, commemorating the miracle of the Temple’s oil lasting eight nights. Hanukkah is about resilience, and we must stay resilient despite what we consume! 

8. Classic Christmas Songs Are Composed by Christians

This one still makes me laugh. Every time I hear ‘White Christmas,’ I can’t help but smile, knowing that the same people who wrote it were probably spinning dreidels and eating latkes that same holiday season.

To me, it underscores the Jewish ethos of being practical, useful, and thriving in any circumstance. Contributing to the broader culture, even outside of traditional Jewish spaces, is one of the many ways Jews have enriched the world. Another thing about Judaism is that while we don’t believe in assimilation, we also don’t want to “evangelize” others or stop anyone else from practicing their own religions. In a way, Jews are always “for” Christmas, and not ever trying to compete with Christmas. 

Conclusion

Growing up, holidays were completely off-limits. My family didn’t observe Japanese holidays, and Christmas was dismissed as too secular or pagan—Santa, naturally, was out of the question. This lack of celebration left me longing for meaningful traditions.

In Japan, I watched Christmas evolve from a European-inspired tree festival into a commercial spectacle, and eventually into something as unusual as a “couple’s romantic holiday.” Meanwhile, Chanukkah, with its deep historical roots, remains firmly a Jewish tradition, unlikely to spread beyond the community in Japan anytime soon.

One of the reasons I wanted my family to convert to Judaism was the beauty and structure of its holidays. Each one is rich with meaning, defined by specific prayers, songs, rituals, exact times (down to the minute), and even traditional dishes. From matzo on Passover to latkes on Chanukkah, the food for each holiday is not just symbolic but an integral part of the celebration. This was everything I missed in my own upbringing, where the only holiday we marked was New Year’s on the Gregorian calendar.

Choosing Judaism gave us the chance to create something new for our daughter: a home filled with holiday memories rooted in clarity, intention, and joy. That being said, I remember one of my rabbis explaining that sometimes we just need to know what to do and how to do it. The meanings and teachings can come later; what matters most is the time spent with family.

I wish you happy holidays and a new year filled with love, meaningful connections with family and friends, laughter, delicious food, nourishment, and good music! 🕎✨💖🎄🎁