Adam & the 8-day festival – Chanukah
Adam had his own Chanukah at the beginning of human history.
According to the Talmud he noticed that the days were getting shorter and darker and he thought it was his fault because he had eaten forbidden fruit, so he fasted and prayed for eight days in repentance for his sin. When he saw that the days were getting longer and brighter he rejoiced and celebrated by means of an eight-day festival.
In later generations, heathens followed but grossly distorted Adam’s festival and turned it into a mid-winter time of idolatry and paganism.
In later generations, the sages realised and were shocked at what the heathens were doing and ensured that the winter celebration was dedicated to God and to genuine spirituality.
