Christians aren’t required to celebrate Chanukah, but many do, seeing it as a way to connect with Jesus (who attended the Feast of Dedication mentioned in John 10:22-23:

“At that time, the Feast of Dedication took place at Jerusalem. It was winter,
and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the colonnade of Solomon.”

The Feast of Dedication was in fact Chanukah (also spelled Hanukkah), a time for the people to honor God’s miracles, embrace their Jewish roots, and find spiritual meaning in light, hope, and rededication, especially as a reminder of divine provision.

While some Jewish voices suggest cultural celebration by Christians might diminish its meaning, many Christians find personal spiritual value in celebrating Chanukah, using it to reflect on faith and Jesus as the light of the world, separate from Christmas.

Why Christians Might Choose to Celebrate Hanukkah:

To Follow Jesus’ Example: Jesus attended the “Feast of Dedication” (Hanukkah) in Jerusalem, demonstrating its significance within Jewish tradition (John 10:22-23). If Jesus observed Chanukah, why shouldn’t followers of Jesus?

For a Deeper Spiritual Connection: The act of celebrating Chanukkah is seen as a chance to connect with Jesus’s Jewish heritage and deepen understanding of faith. Romans says that non-Jewish believers are “grafted in” to the one faith. Observing Chanukah makes sense for non-Jewish believers to better understand their Jewish brothers and sisters in Christ.

“For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all
and richly blesses all who call on him”. (Romans 10:12)

• Focus on Light & Hope During the Season: Hanukkah’s story of miraculous light in darkness mirrors Christian beliefs about Jesus, the “Light of the World”.

• Acknowledge that God does indeed Perform Miracles: It honors God’s faithfulness and provision, themes relevant to Christian faith.

• A Time of Rededication: The name “Hanukkah” means dedication, prompting Christians to rededicate their lives to Jesus.

There is no Biblical mandate for Christians to celebrate Chanukah. However, the Gospel of John does record that Jesus was in Jerusalem during the Feast of Dedication (Chanukah), presumably honoring that Feast as a practicing Jew. Some Jewish voices suggest that celebrating both Hanukkah and Christmas can culturally diminish both celebrations, while others see the themes inherent in Chanukah and Christmas as complementary:

Chanukah Celebrates a Miracle of Light, and Jesus is the Light of the World:

• The Bible proclaims in 1 John 1:5 that God is the light of the world: “This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all”.
• Jesus identified Himself as one with the Father by saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)

Chanukah Celebrates a Miracle of Lights and Provision by God to Meet Our Needs

• Jesus Performed Many Miracles that Proved He was the Promised Messiah – Jesus performed numerous healings: curing blindness (Bartimaeus, man born blind), leprosy (lepers, a leper asking to be clean), paralysis (man at Bethesda, Peter’s mother-in-law, paralyzed friends’ friend), deafness/muteness (deaf/mute man in Decapolis), internal bleeding (woman with issue of blood), and even restoring a severed ear (Malchus), often using touch, words, spittle/clay, or just His command, showing compassion and demonstrating divine power over disease, disabilities, and even death (raising Lazarus).
• Jesus Provided for the Needs of People – besides meeting the needs for healing of their bodies or distressed spirits, Jesus fed hungry people who were listening to His sermons. Jesus fed people miraculously on at least two occasions in the Gospels: the Feeding of the 5,000 (with five loaves and two fish, resulting in 12 baskets of leftovers) and the Feeding of the 4,000 (with seven loaves and a few fish, leaving seven baskets). Both events highlight his compassion, divine power, and teaching, showing God’s provision for both physical and spiritual needs, with the first miracle appearing in all four Gospels.

For Messianic Christians, it‘s a natural way to honor their Jewish roots and faith in Jesus the Messiah.
For Gentiles, Christians can choose to celebrate Hanukkah for its rich spiritual themes and connections to Jesus, viewing it as a meaningful festival of light and hope, not as a replacement for Christmas but as an opportunity to deepen their faith.

Sources:

International Fellowship of Christians and Jews: The Meaning of Hanukkah for Christians
The Fellowship | December 1, 2022 – https://www.ifcj.org/news/fellowship-blog/the-meaning-of-hanukkah-for-christians