For the first time in nearly 20 years, the first night of Hanukkah falls on Christmas day, marking a rare confluence of Jewish and Christian holidays, which occur on separate calendars.

Hanukkah commemorates the victory of the Jewish people over the Syrian army in a fight to gain religious freedom. When the Syrians were trying to impose their religion and culture on the Jewish people, the non-conformist army, the Maccabees, were able to fight and win the rededication of their temple in Jerusalem.