Navigating the Festive Fusion: The Joys and Jumbles of Celebrating Christmas and Hanukkah Together

Lillian Weiss-Pires, aged 8, expressed her affection for Christmas due to its cozy vibe. She takes pleasure in adorning the tree and unwrapping presents.

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

The third grader, who resides with her two mothers in Oakland, California, is also fond of Hanukkah.

“ Hanukkah is when you can really gather with friends and family,” she shared. “Plus, you get to indulge a lot more, and I absolutely love eating!”

A holiday steeped in European tradition

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

Chrismukkah originates from the 19th century — when German Jews, some of whom were increasingly integrating into mainstream German Christian society — embraced Christmas customs in a secular manner. The celebration was initially called Weihnukkah (“Weihnachten” translates to “Christmas” in German.)

“On one side, the integration was a symbol of social acceptance and a pathway to economic and political participation,” noted journalist James Wald in a 2016 article for The Times of Israel. “Conversely, it resulted in a decline in the Jewish demographic.”

In the United States, Chrismukkah has gained cultural significance over recent decades after being featured in a December 2003 episode of the TV show The O.C. One of the central characters, Seth Cohen, celebrated the holiday as a means to honor his blended Jewish and Protestant background. The O.C. subsequently produced annual Chrismukkah specials.

A Chrismukkah in Oakland

With Christmas and Hanukkah coinciding this year, the festive baking at the Weiss-Pires home is possibly more hectic than usual. Christmas-themed gingerbread sticks to the counters, and the rugelach — a delightful Jewish holiday pastry — unintentionally goes into the oven without the cinnamon sugar topping.

“ Typically, you’d put it on at the very start, but we can do that now while it sizzles a bit,” commented Lynda Pires, one of Lillian’s mothers, as she sprinkles cinnamon sugar over the hot rugelach and returns the treats to the oven to finish baking.

Intersecting holiday customs are deeply embedded in this family. Pires shared that she was brought up in the Catholic faith.

“There were crucifixes all over my house — thanks to my Brazilian father!” she recalled.

However, she grew up in New York City celebrating both the Nativity of Jesus and the Festival of Lights.

“I adored attending Hanukkah gatherings,” Pires reminisced. “My friend’s mother baked the most amazing chocolate cake.”

Lillian’s other parent, Bessie Weiss, follows the Jewish faith. She has always marked Hanukkah.

“ We would illuminate the candles every evening, and in some years there would be minor gifts,” she shared of how her family customarily observed the holiday during her upbringing in the San Francisco Bay Area.

She also mentioned that she has come to appreciate Christmas through the years.

“All the Jewish families in my parents’ neighborhood would go Christmas caroling!” she recalled. 

Balancing the day

These days, Christmas melodies are very much a part of this family’s holiday practices, ranging from “Jingle Bells” to “Last Christmas.” (Lillian favors the Ariana Grande rendition; her mothers lean towards George Michael.) They also indulge in singing Hanukkah songs, such as “Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel.”

That said, the full-fledged Chrismukkah celebrations can sometimes become perplexing — particularly in a year like this one when there is no interval between the holidays.

“Whenever I want to sport something festive, I typically choose whatever is nearest to the holiday,” Lillian explained regarding her wardrobe decisions during past holiday seasons. “But now I’m unsure whether to go for Christmas or Hanukkah-themed attire.”

Her mothers inform her that with both holidays coinciding on the same day, she can seamlessly mix and match.

“Alright, so perhaps blue shiny pants adorned with the Hanukkah symbol,” Lillian envisioned as she planned the ultimate Holiday 2024 outfit. “And a Christmas sweater.”

Copyright 2024 NPR