Dual Festivities: Navigating the Joy and Jumble of Celebrating Christmas and Hanukkah Together

NPR

Lillian Weiss-Pires, age 8, expressed her fondness for Christmas, describing it as warm. She relishes decorating the tree and unwrapping presents.

“I enjoy picturing Santa coming in and delivering the gifts,” she remarked.

This third grader, residing with her two moms in Oakland, California, shares a love for Hanukkah as well.

“ Hanukkah is a time when you can actually gather with friends and family,” she stated. “Additionally, you get to eat a lot more, and I adore food!”

A celebration with European origins

The observance of both Jewish and Christian traditions is commonly referred to as Chrismukkah. In 2024, Hanukkah commences at sundown on Christmas day, which is a rare occurrence.

Chrismukkah traces its origins back to the 19th century — when German Jews, many of whom were increasingly integrating into the broader German Christian milieu — incorporated Christmas customs in a secular manner. The celebration was initially termed Weihnukkah (“Weihnachten” translates to “Christmas” in German.)

“On one side, the assimilation represented a mark of social acceptance as well as economic and political integration,” journalist James Wald wrote in a 2016 article concerning the holiday for The Times of Israel. “On the flip side, it resulted in a reduction in the Jewish population.”

In the United States, Chrismukkah has gained cultural importance over recent decades after appearing in a December 2003 episode of the television show The O.C. One of the primary characters, Seth Cohen, celebrated the holiday to honor his blended Jewish and Protestant heritage. The O.C. subsequently featured annual Chrismukkah specials.

An Oakland Chrismukkah

As both Christmas and Hanukkah coincide this year, holiday baking at the Weiss-Pires home is likely a tad more hectic than usual. Festive gingerbread sticks cling to the countertop, while the rugelach — a delectable Jewish festive pastry — is unintentionally placed in the oven without its cinnamon sugar topping.

“ Generally, you’d add it at the start, but we can do it now while it’s sizzling a bit,” remarked Lynda Pires, one of Lillian’s moms, as she sprinkles cinnamon sugar on the warm rugelach and returns the pastries to the oven for completion.

Intertwined holiday traditions are deeply embedded in this household. Pires shared that she was brought up in a Catholic family.

“There were crosses everywhere in my home — cheers to my Brazilian father!” she exclaimed.

However, she spent her childhood in New York City, celebrating both the Nativity and the Festival of Lights.

“I loved attending Hanukkah gatherings,” Pires reminisced. “My friend’s mother made the most delicious chocolate cake.”

Lillian’s other parent, Bessie Weiss, identifies as Jewish. She stated that she has always engaged in celebrating Hanukkah.   

“ We would light the candles each night, and occasionally there were small gifts,” she explained about her family’s traditional observance of the holiday while growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Nonetheless, she mentioned that she has learned to appreciate Christmas as well through the years.

“All the Jews in my parents’ neighborhood would go Christmas caroling!” she noted. 

Managing the occasion

Nowadays, holiday tunes remain an integral part of this family’s celebrations, ranging from “Jingle Bells” to “Last Christmas.” (Lillian favors the Ariana Grande rendition; her moms lean towards George Michael.) They equally enjoy performing Hanukkah melodies, such as “Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel.”

Nonetheless, the full-blown Chrismukkah observances can sometimes lead to confusion — particularly in a year like this when there is no interval between the festivities.

“Whenever I desire to wear something festive, I generally choose what’s closest to the holiday,” Lillian explained regarding her attire decisions during past holiday seasons. “But now I’m uncertain whether to go for Christmas or Hanukkah-themed clothes.”

Her parents advise her that the overlap of Christmas and Hanukkah makes it simpler to blend styles freely.

“Alright, so, blue sparkly pants adorned with the symbol of Hanukkah,” Lillian envisioned while planning her ideal Holiday 2024 outfit. “And a Christmas sweater.”