Merry Christmas Happy Hanukkah

Merry Christmas

From Legalhotwater, Merry Christmas on this day, December 25, 2025.  For many across the world, Christmas is a celebrated day: A day of joy, gift giving, presents, good food, family cheer, close friends, and overall a welcomed holiday season. Of course, the foundation of Christmas is attributed to the Christian religion, with the birth of Jesus Christ on December 25. This modern date of December 25, originally associated with the Julian calendar, was ratified via the Roman Catholic Church as the official day of celebration, of the birth of Christ, which is precisely nine months following the spring equinox period. Today, the Gregorian calendar has displaced the Julian calendar. For 2025, the Julian calendar cross-reference for Christmas Day is January 7, 2026. Perhaps, this is at least one reason why the term Christmas season has become the universal phrase to reference Christmas.

In any event, the recognized birthday of Christ, has evolved over the millenniums to symbolize the spirit of giving. And albeit giving is more or less associated with the giving (and receiving) of presents from friends, family, co-workers, and loved ones, etc., -- the spirit of giving has traditionally been attributed to goodwill towards man. A day, if not a period, where man is expected to return his sword to its sheath -- at least for a day -- with the theme of goodwill towards man -- again -- at least for a day.

Hanukkah

Happy Hanukkah (belated). For those of the Jewish faith, Hanukkah is the period of holiday celebration. Moreover, in modern days Hanukkah signifies and symbolizes the Festival of Lights which commences on the 25th day of Kislev. The 25th day of Kislev (per the Hebrew calendar) should not be confused with December 25 (the Gregorian calendar), which can be a common point of confusion. Per the Hebrew calendar for 2025, Hanukkah or the Festival of Lights period actually commenced on December 14, 2025, through December 22, 2025. Hence, the previous reference to Happy Hanukkah (belated). Hanukkah is an English word translated from the first Hebrew translation of Antiquities (1864), translated as the Festival of Lamps (חַג הַמְּאֹרוֹת), which later was adopted as the Festival of Lights (חַג הַאוּרִים) per the Narrative of Josephus. 

These are just a few references of religious faith to the Christmas holiday season; there are many others. Nonetheless, whatever one's religious faith, let it be filled with goodwill towards man and cheer -- at least for a day -- if not for a period. Happy Holidays from Legalhotwater.