It's December, which means Christmas season is in full swing, and everyone around me is just thrilled to buy each other gifts, decorate a tree, and listen to Mariah Carey on a loop. I'll admit, it's a pretty fun time for me too, even as a Jew. As much as Christmas is irrelevant to me religiously, it's still fun to watch the houses around me light up with bright decorations and jolly Santa Clauses. I enjoy Christmas because I like to see everyone around me happy and excited for the month ahead.

So now, some thoughts on Hanukkah.

The story goes like this—thousands of years ago the land of Israel was under the control of the Syrian-Greek Empire's Seleucid dynasty. The king, Antiochus, banned the practice of Judaism in Jerusalem and persecuted the Jews living in Israel (as almost every Jewish story starts). A group of men called the Maccabees fought Antiochus's forces and won, eventually liberating Jerusalem. When they arrived at the Second Temple, there was almost no oil left in the temple to light the menorah, but the Maccabees found just enough to light it for a day. By a miracle of God, the flame lasted for eight.

Hanukkah is, in terms of the Jewish religion, not all that important. As far as holidays go, Jews care more about Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Passover, all of which take precedence over Hanukkah and result in a huge influx in synagogue attendance. In the United States, however, Hanukkah seems to be the most prominent Jewish holiday in the public eye. Around December, pictures of dreidels start popping up alongside those of Santa Claus in elementary school classrooms, and any mention of Christmas is followed up by a quick "and happy Hanukkah too!" Honestly, I can't say it isn't a little insulting.

The thing is, us Jews all know Hanukkah is kind of ridiculous. Let's not kid ourselves, the food is great, but the actual holiday itself is pretty out of place in our traditions. Christmas is meant to be a joyous celebration, and Jews are kind of jealous. Our holidays are not so much celebrations as they are commemorations of Jewish suffering (see: Passover, Tisha B'av), signs that we remember our ancestors and continue to love God. Rather than feasting, we fast, and rather than giving gifts, we seek to minimize demonstrations of extravagance. Even Purim, one of our "happiest" holidays, is based on Jews escaping persecution.

So why should we even care about Hanukkah? Well, for one thing, it proves to us that we deserve the same joy that Christians do around the time of the holidays. We're still here, still standing, and even though we have had very little to celebrate historically, we're somehow able to do so anyway. Hanukkah is "dumb," but it's ours, and we love it because of that. It gives Jews the opportunity to be more than just grateful for our survival, but actually cheerful about the lives we have today.

I've heard the question, "Wait, don't Jews think Hanukkah is kind of stupid?" a few times, and I finally have an answer to it. Hanukkah is, regarding spirituality, kind of insignificant. In comparison to other holidays, it means very little. However, Hanukkah means a lot when you look at Judaism in the modern world. Even if you don't get a gift a day (I sure don't), you probably feel a little lighter knowing that your religion matters. People care about your faith and, for once, aren't pushing you to stop practicing it. Hanukkah is the chance for Jews to broadcast to the world that we aren't just alive, but we are proud of who we are, and we are celebrating it. That's what makes Hanukkah so important, and that's why it isn't just a "dumb" holiday.