Hanukkah, officially instituted by the Hasmoneans, was, like Tabernacles, eight days, and it was also the eight-day period corresponding to the pagan winter solstice festivities celebrating the return of light, lustily celebrated in Greece and Rome. Triumphal days in the Greek style – like the Day of Nicanor commemorating the defeat of that general – were added to the calendar.
Hanukkah, established by the Hasmoneans, is an eight-day festival similar in duration to the Feast of Tabernacles. Its timing aligns with pagan celebrations of the winter solstice, which symbolized the return of light and were widely celebrated in ancient Greece and Rome. This connection to earlier festivals shows how traditions evolve and adapt over time.
In addition to Hanukkah, the Jewish calendar also incorporated various commemorative days, such as the Day of Nicanor, which celebrated the defeat of the general of that name. These triumphal days reflect a blend of cultural influences and the historical narrative of the Jewish people, as described by Simon Schama in his exploration of Jewish history.
