Although it took centuries before the tradition was accepted worldwide, the date selection comes as no surprise since celebrations already occurred throughout the Roman Empire at that time for Pagan gods. The festival celebrates the retaking of the Temple at Jerusalem by the Maccabees from Antiochus, the king of Syria, who had rededicated it to a Pagan deity at the time of the solstice and extinguished the sacred menorah. Judah, the Maccabee leader, in winning for the cause of religious freedom, restored the temple and relit the menorah. Miraculously, the flame burned for 8 straight days on consecrated oil sufficient for only 24 hours. As a result, Hanukkah is celebrated to give thanks for the ancient miracle, with a 9-branch menorah holding a candle lit for each of the 8 days plus a servant light used to ignite the others.
People eat potato latkes, exchange gifts, and play dreidel games.
Native Americans have also long celebrated the solstice. Pueblo rites are built around the sun and the coming new year. Winter solstice rites include prayer stick-making, retreats, altars, emesis and prayers for increase. Rituals include prayer stick-making, purification, rituals, a feast, and blessings. Natives created many stone structures to detect the solstices and equinoxes.