Hanukkah Before Advent

My high school was founded by a Jewish philanthropist, originally exclusively for Jewish orphans; nearly half of my graduating class of 96 were Jewish. It therefore embarrasses me to admit that while I pretty well understand Yom Kippur and Rosh Hashanah and Passover, I never quite bothered to pay attention to what Hanukkah was all about. I knew my classmates lit candles, and that sometimes Hanukkah fell more near to Christmas Day than others -- but that was about it. Such is the cultural myopia of a Christian focused on his Savior's birth, and on the attendant societal celebrations. My Jewish friends could do what they would do, and I wished them all the joy of the season -- but I should have taken an interest in what they were commemorating, both out of respect for them and because I probably needed the edification. That which is no threat to one's own culture or faith should be embraced for its contributions to cultural richness.