In many parts of the world, Christmas is the reason to celebrate in late December. It is also a reason to spend a lot of your income on presents. Hanukkah does not really work that way.
Sure, there are many nights of presents during the Jewish holiday, but it did not begin as a reason to help the idea of capitalism. Heck, neither was Christmas. But one has been turned into something a lot more secular than the other holiday.
Many of the musicians that follow might not follow Judaism that closely, but they still have strong ties to the religion. They might not be who they are without their ancestry. Ultimately, though, they can all give thanks to the god of rock for their financial success.
Six rock musicians who might choose to celebrate Hanukkah more than they would Christmas
Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley of KISS
Simmons was born in Israel and moved to the United States when he was nine. Sure, he made his own decisions later as a teenager, but one's formative years normally happen before they are eight. Simmons has always maintained a reverence toward Judaism and never argued that his early years did not help him become the God of Thunder.
Simmons and Stanley are both from New York City which has a rich history of being influenced by the Jewish faith. Stanley's mother was able to escape Nazi Germany. The singer and guitarist has said he owes an obligation to his children to make sure they understand their family's past and make sure things such as the holocaust never happen again.
Paul Simon
Simon was born to Hungarian-Jewish parents in New Jersey and chose to pursue a musical career instead of becoming an attorney. He made the right choice not only for him but for his millions of fans. Where would we be without Graceland or "Bridge Over Troubled Water"?
Marc Bolan of T-Rex
While Bolan was only half-Jewish, he never discarded that part of his heritage. In fact, his music became part of a tribute album called Great Jewish Music. That included classical music as well, but is there any better music than T-Rex?
Daryl Hall
Hall was not born to a Jewish family, but he chose to convert before marrying his first wife in 1969. After the marriage ended, Hall did not do away with his faith. He continued to find strength in Judaism and has said the religion gives him a real "understanding" of life.
Max Weinberg
Weinberg is most famously the drummer from Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, but he is also the bandleader of the band that played on Conan O'Brien's late-night show. He is also the father of Jay Weinberg, who was a long-term drummer for Slipknot. Max has been a long advocate for the Jewish faith and has said he owes a lot of his musical influences to his early years in a synagogue.