This
year, Chanukah, the Jewish Holiday – “Festival of Lights,” begins on November
27th, the night before Thanksgiving.
For those who don’t recognize the line in the title of this post, it is
the first line of a funny Adam Sandler Chanukah song.
All
Jewish holidays begin at sundown the night before they appear on Gregorian calendars. (In
case you don’t know, this is the calendar we use today.) In actuality, on the Hebrew calendar, Chanukah
is on the same date every year, but it appears to be different each year
because the calendar months are not the same length on the two calendars.
According
to the Gregorian calendar, Chanukah falling on Thanksgiving is extremely rare. Since Thanksgiving was declared a Federal
holiday, the last time Chanukah began (first full day) on Thanksgiving was in
1888. Some mathematicians say that it
won’t happen again for 79,000 years! I
haven’t verified that fact. I will
accept the fact that Chanukah is really early this year, and it is very rare
for it to occur on Thanksgiving.
I
find it amusing that, because of the proximity of the two holidays, a new term
has been coined, “Thanksgivukah!” There are even websites and a Facebook page devoted
to Thanksgivukah. Some companies are taking advantage of this by producing merchandise
for Thanksgivukah. A nine-year-old child
created the “Menurkey,” a trademarked
turkey-shaped menorah (candelabra).
Zazzle.com is selling Thanksgivukah gift wrap for $15.99! I have also seen
T-shirts saying Thanksgivukah. Since
it is so rare, do you think those items will become collectors’ items?
For those who don’t know, Chanukah is a Jewish festival that lasts eight days. It commemorates the re-dedication of the
Temple in 165 BC by the Maccabees after its desecration by the Syrians. It is
marked by the successive kindling of eight lights (candles), and prayers
are included in the lighting ceremony.
In modern times,
particularly in the United States, Chanukah has become a “more important”
holiday than it actually is. Because it
falls in the winter holiday season, many Jewish people exchange gifts
(particularly for the children) on each of the eight days. They decorate their homes and have
parties. In other words, it has become commercialized,
much like Christmas.
An interesting analogy I have
heard said is that there are amazing similarities between the Pilgrims’ quest for religious freedom
and the ancient Hebrews’ fight for freedom from the Greeks in the Hanukkah
story.
It is still a bit early, but I will still wish all my
American friends a Happy Thanksgiving.
And for Jews throughout the world, may you enjoy a blessed Chanukah.
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