Put on Your Yamakah, Here Comes Chanukah.

This year, Chanukah, the Jewish Holiday – “Festival of Lights,” begins on November 27^th, 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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