Two Holidays Collide
Hanukah? Hanukkah? Chanukkah? Many wonder how do you even spell it, much less celebrate it and Thanksgiving on the same day? Dubbed “Thanksgivukkah: 8 Days of Light, Liberty & Latkes” by the mainstream media, these two holidays colliding on November 28th will not happens for another 79,000 years.
This leads to a day of unique celebration for some Jewish families, and some don’t have to worry about how to honor the two very different holidays. Hanukkah (which, by the way, is only one of numerous spellings) is a holiday that commemorates the re-dedication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem following the Jewish victory over the Syrian-Greeks during the Maccabean Revolt in 165 B.C.E, which lasts for eight days and nights. Thanksgiving, on the other hand, is a holiday specific to the United States as a way of giving thanks for the blessings of the harvest, first celebrated by the pilgrims and Native Americans in 1621.
Urbana High School Senior, Darian Gingold said, “During Hanukkah we light candles and celebrate the season and thank God for this time to appreciate his glory. And, during Thanksgiving we celebrate as any other American with turkey and eating with family.”
So, how does one of Semitic background living in the U.S. go about observing both Hanukkah and Thanksgiving? When asked this question Ben Ross, UHS Senior, said, “We are going to do a regular Thanksgiving in Philadelphia, and have dinner and the usual thing. Then, in the evening we will do the menorah ritual.”
One might believe that this rare occurrence is being highly discussed, but most are indifferent to it.
UHS Sophomore Quillin Bakker said, “It doesn’t bother me and my faiths…I really don’t have an opinion.”
This once in an eon convergence will only bring new friends and family together to celebrate Hanukkah and Thanksgiving; two very cherished holidays.
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