Dismayed by the growing popularity of secular Christmas traditions among Jews, including hanging stockings, decorating fir trees, and exchanging gifts either on Christmas Day or New Years Eve, Cincinnati Rabbis Wise and Lilienthal devised a plan to resurrect an insignificant Jewish holiday called Chanukah, celebrated mainly by old women decorating their front doors with yellow and blue lights. They planned to copy and Judaize the various secular elements of Christmas, including presents, lights, greeting cards, supper, carols, and community center events. Thus the celebration of Chanukah was established in Cincinnatti, Ohio, USA, 1870. Source: Hanukkah in America - NYU Press Teacher's Guide https://s3.amazonaws.com/supadu-imgix/ingram-nyu/pdfs/instructors-guide/9780814707395_ig.pdf