A Christian Family’s Hanukkah Journey
Over the last several years, our family has slowly begun incorporating more biblical feasts and festivals into our faith life. What started as simple curiosity turned into something far deeper — a rhythm of worship that has brought peace, intentionality, and joy into our home.
One of the most unexpected blessings has been celebrating Hanukkah.
As Christians, many of us are taught that the biblical calendar is “not for us,” or that these celebrations are complicated, burdensome, or rooted only in tradition. But as we stepped back and approached these moments through Scripture — not obligation — we discovered something beautiful: God invites His people to remember, to reflect, and to rejoice together.
Slowing Down in a Busy World
One of the greatest gifts Hanukkah has given our family is the invitation to slow down.
In a season when everything feels rushed, noisy, and overstimulated, lighting the candles each night has become a quiet pause. The simple act of gathering, striking a flame, and reading Scripture together brings a sense of calm that’s hard to describe unless you’ve experienced it.
There’s no pressure. No performance. Just a few intentional moments focused on God.
Each evening feels like an exhale — a reminder that worship doesn’t have to be loud or complicated to be meaningful.
Watching the Light Grow Brighter
Hanukkah begins with a single light.
Then, night by night, that light grows.
As Christians, this imagery has spoken deeply to us. Watching the candles increase each evening has become a visual reminder of the Body of Christ — many lights, growing brighter together, pushing back darkness.
Jesus told us that He is the Light of the world, and that we are called to reflect that light. There’s something powerful about watching that truth take shape right in front of you — not just hearing it, but seeing it.
Each night’s light feels like hope renewed.
Eight Days of Purposeful Worship
What surprised me most was how eight days of intentional worship felt compared to what we were doing before.
So often, celebrations come and go in a blur. But Hanukkah asks us to stay — to return night after night, to remember again and again, to let truth sink deeper with time.
Instead of one busy moment, we experienced eight days of focus.
Eight days of Scripture.
Eight days of prayer.
Eight days of remembering God’s faithfulness.
It felt fuller. Richer. More like a true celebration.
Doing Bible Things in Bible Ways
I know that stepping into biblical celebrations can feel intimidating, especially for Christians who may be hesitant to adopt traditions that seem like a different faith at first glance. That was important to me, too. But seeing Jesus celebrating the Feast of Dedication in John 10 made me see that I was being drawn to this celebration by God Himself and He welcomed it.
Our goal has never been to “do everything right,” but to do Bible things in Bible ways — gently, prayerfully, and with Scripture as our foundation.
Hanukkah doesn’t have to be overwhelming. It can be simple, Christ-focused, and deeply meaningful when approached with the right heart.
Why I Created This Guide
Because this celebration has been such a blessing to our family, I wanted to create something that would help other believers feel confident and supported as they explore Hanukkah for themselves.
I’ve put together a Christ-focused, ready-made Hanukkah guide for believers that includes:
A clear explanation of Hanukkah
How to light a hanukkiah
Nightly Scriptures and prayers
Gentle encouragement for Christian homes
Ideas for creating meaningful family traditions
My prayer is that this guide removes confusion and replaces it with peace — so families can step into biblical celebrations with joy, not stress and a ton of research & sifting through information.
👉 You can find the ebook here:
Hanukkah for Christians E-Book
A Gentle Invitation
If you’ve ever felt curious about biblical feasts…
If you’ve longed for deeper family worship…
If you want celebrations that feel intentional and Christ-centered…
I encourage you to start small. Light a candle. Read Scripture. Let the light grow.
You may be surprised how much beauty God brings into those quiet moments.