In a rare occurrence, Jewish people are celebrating the first day of Hanukkah on the same day as Christmas. Jews are marking the event around the world with traditional ceremonies but some are being held in untraditional places.

In China, the staff of Israel's embassy celebrated the festival in a landmark location. Israeli ex-patriots and Chinese guests helped to light the first candle of the traditional menorah on top of the Great Wall of China.

"I and two hundred Israelis and Jews came here," Israeli Ambassador to China Dr. Yehoyada Haim said Sunday. "It's a very historical moment in our history because these two symbols of Judaism and Chinese civilizations are meeting together."

After the ceremony attendees sang special songs and ate traditional food. This is the first time Hanukkah has been held at the Great Wall. The ceremony took place at Mutianyu in Huairou County, 70 kilometres northeast of Beijing.

Israel celebrates

The mayor of Jerusalem played host to hundreds for official Hanukkah festivities at Safra Square in Israel.

Families lit the first candle of the Hanukkah festival at sundown on Sunday. Hanukkah commemorates an ancient victory by the Jews against foreign enemies in the Holy land.

After lighting the candle, families share a traditional meal that usually consists of oil-fried potato latkes (pancakes) and jelly-filled doughnuts.

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon warned Israelis to try not to overeat during the eight-day festival. Sharon, 77, returned to work on Sunday after suffering a mild stroke and jokingly warned Israelis about eating too much.

"I hope you will all eat doughnuts and potato pancakes. You have permission to eat them, but I recommend that you don't overdo it,'' Sharon said smiling.

Hanukkah's history

Theologically, Hanukkah is a minor festival on the Jewish calendar, but it has grown to prominence because of its proximity to Christmas. This year's match-up with Christmas is the first time it has happened since 1959.

The practice of gift giving carried over into Hanukkah because of the Christmas precedent, though the Jewish holiday precedes the Christian one.

Hanukkah recalls the victory against all odds of the small Maccabean army against the Syrian king Antiochus in 165 B.C. The eight-day length of the festival is a result of a story that when the Jews rededicated the Temple in Jerusalem, which had been desecrated by the invaders, a single vial of oil, enough for one day, burned miraculously for eight.

The story, though it is not included in accounts of the struggle, has become one of the main trademarks of Hanukkah, which means "dedication'' in Hebrew. The holiday is also known as the "Festival of Lights.''