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Happy #Chanukah Night 7, a merry #Kratzmach, and a Giten #Nittel 
Playing chess as the Hasidic custom is on Nittel, and of course following the "ancient" New York Jewish custom of Chinese food on Kratzmach - #ChristmasEve.
And watching The Godfather 
More on Nittel/Kratzmach in the thread below (1/4)
Was just about to open #Sefaria to look up some Torah texts.
Then decided that #NittelNacht isn't one of the customs I need to rebel against 
Torah study will wait.
A Git Nittel you all!
#Nittel Nacht is a traditional custom of some communities (who lived in Christian majority countries for 1,000+ years) - not to learn any sacred text on the eve of December 24th (and/or January 6th for those who lived in Eastern Christian countries).
https://thesecondtransition.blogspot.com/2017/12/the-most-beautiful-night.html/
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Two common reasons given:
1. It was literally dangerous for Jews to be outside on #Christmas Eve - as drunk masses often got preached against Jews during mass. Most people at the time studied at synagogue, so #Nittel kept them home.
2. That given the marking of the birth of "אותו האיש" (lit: That Person, common nickname for Jesus), the impure/evil forces are strong this night, and they might "steal" anything sacred.
^ this was the most common reason I was given growing up.
3/4
Albeit it was probably added as a reason after the custom was already established.
It's also the only time of the year when Christianity (or any other religion) was given any credit as actually having "spiritual" (extremely negative) power - in the community I was raised in.
PS: the thread above is mostly ideas and beliefs I grew up with, not fully my own beliefs today.
4/4