Merry Christmas or Happy Hanukkah. Both of these are sayings families use around the holidays.

While parts of the world celebrated Christmas, Wednesday also marked the first night of Hanukkah.

For the first time since 2005, the first day of Hanukkah is on Christmas.

“It's pretty rare. So this is only the fifth time since 1900 that the first night of Hanukkah falls on Christmas,” said Bonnie Burdman, executive director for community relations and government affairs at the Youngstown area Jewish Federation.

Hanukkah takes place on the 25th of the month of Kislev in the Hebrew calendar, which falls between late November to late December.

While both holidays are celebrated by exchanging gifts, and visiting family and friends, the meaning behind the holidays are very different. Hanukkah commemorates the Jewish people’s success in the Maccabean Revolt.

The Jews who were living in the holy land were living under the control of Syrian-Greeks. So there was a revolt and it was successful,” said Burdman.

During the holiday, The Youngstown Jewish Community Center (JCC) is displaying a menorah. People gathered at the center, waiting for the lighting of the first candle.

“To watch and to pray, and to be a part of the community,” said Yolanda Reyes of Youngstown.

On each of the eight days of Hanukkah, a candle is lit on the menorah. Each of the candles represents a day rededicating the Second Temple.

“They needed eight days of oil to sanctify the temple and they only had one day's worth of oil, not enough time to make the full eight days, and miraculously,  that one day's worth of oil lasted for eight days in time to rededicate the temple,” said Burdman.

Burdman said recognizing Hanukkah is more important than ever, especially with the rise of antisemitism.

“As you know, we’re in a terrible terrible time with a horrible uptick in antisemitism, and giving the meaning of this holiday, a fight for religious freedom, it reminds of of some of the similar challenges we have today, and why we must continue to fight against antisemitism and al forms of hatred,” said Burdman.

Hanukkah started Wednesday, December 25. The last day of the Jewish holiday is January 2, 2025.