Wednesday, December 25 (Christmas + Hanukkah: A "Holidays" Special)

Merry Christmas and Hanukkah, everyone! Hope you have a great rest of the holiday season!

This is the first year since 2005 that Christmas, a Christian holiday, and Hanukkah, a Jewish holiday, fall on the same day.

Background (History of These Holidays)

Christmas is a holiday celebrating the birth of the Christian messiah, Jesus Christ. The story goes like this: A woman named Mary and her husband Joseph were entering the city of Bethlehem when Mary started to go into labor. All the guest rooms were full, so Mary gave birth to baby Jesus in a stable and placed him in a manger. Depending on which part of the Bible you look at, 3 wise men or 3 shepherds came to see the baby. This story is referred to as the Nativity story.

Hanukkah is a holiday celebrating the repelling of invaders from the Jewish holy city of Jerusalem. In 168 BCE, the Seleucid Empire raided the Temple of Jerusalem, and Judaism was outlawed. Only a small bit of oil was left that wasn't "desecrated" by the raiders. The oil was supposed to last only a single night. However, it managed to last for 8 days and nights! This was the miracle of Hanukkah.

Celebrations

Observers of Christmas usually celebrate by decorating a tree, attending a church service, and either acting or creating a model of the scene of Jesus' birth. A Christmas legend is of Santa Claus, a man who gives gifts to well-behaved children.

*Note: The Christmas date mentioned here is the one observed by almost all Catholic and Protestant denominations. Practitioners of Orthodox Christianity celebrate Christmas on January 7, the Armenian Apostolic Church and the Armenian Evangelical Church observe on January 6, and members of the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem celebrate on January 19.

Observers of Hanukkah usually celebrate by lighting a menorah, a set of 9 candles. 8 candles represent the days of Hanukkah, and the candle in the middle is called the shamash, used to light the others. Eating fried foods or foods baked in oil, giving children chocolate coins called gelt, and adding special additions to daily prayers are other traditions.

Coincidence of 2024

Since 1900, Hanukkah and Christmas have shared a starting date 4 times: 1910, 1921, 1959, and 2005. In the last 50 years, it has also started on Christmas Eve twice: 1978 and 2016.

By now, you definitely have one question: how are they coinciding? Well, Christmas falls on the 25th day of December. Hanukkah starts at sundown on the 25th day of Kislev, the 3rd month of the Hebrew calendar. Since the Hebrew calendar is 11 days shorter than the Gregorian calendar, Hanukkah happens at a different time each Gregorian year. (The Gregorian calendar is the calendar we all use from day to day. Ex. January, February, etc.) This year, 25th December and 25th Kislev fall on the same day.

This fun date helps out a holiday tradition called "Chrismukkah." It is usually practiced among inter-faith families, and it involves celebrating both holidays. For example, one might make foods to celebrate both Christmas and Hanukkah.

The alignment will happen next in 2035 and 2054. Until then, let's celebrate both holidays with the same importance and wait for the next amazing dates!

Fact of the Day (Facts.net): During World War I, on Christmas Eve, 1914, British soldiers saw some Christmas trees lined up on the German side and heard carol singing. One thing led to another, and soon, messages were passed between the trenches. The next day, both British and German soldiers exchanged gifts, buried casualties, repaired trenches, and even played football. Astonishingly, soldiers from the warring nations ate and drank together while the Germans sang "Stille Nacht" and the British sang the English version – "Silent Night."

Quote of the Day: Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful. (Norman Vincent Peale)

Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Wassail (verb, pronounced WAH-sul) - To wassail is to sing carols (popular songs or ballads of religious joy) from house to house at Christmas; the verb is usually used in the phrase "go wassailing." As a noun, wassail can refer to (among other things) a hot drink that is made with wine, beer, or cider, as well as spices, sugar, and usually baked apples. Wassail is traditionally served in a large bowl, especially at Christmastime.

In a Sentence: Every year at Christmastime the magazine publishes a recipe for the traditional drink served to those who go wassailing and may appear at one's doorstep.

Image credit: https://www.homedepot.com/p/SYNCFUN-Syncfun-24in-Prelit-Tabletop-Christmas-Tree-with-Warm-Lights-Holly-Berries-Pine-Cones-30086/317286658