The first night of Hanukkah and Christmas Day coincide this year, a rare occurrence prompting reflection on interfaith family celebrations. Erica Foster, a Jewish mother, is experiencing this confluence for the first time, celebrating Hanukkah in her husband’s non-Jewish family home in Maryland. While excited about the dual celebrations, she acknowledges the challenge of balancing both traditions and ensuring equal representation. This year’s overlap, only the fifth since 1910, marks a unique opportunity for understanding and dialogue between faiths.
The Fosters’ experience highlights the common decisions interfaith families face. Dan Olsen, director of the Archdiocese of Chicago’s Office for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs, notes the challenges and opportunities presented by such overlaps. The need to share both parental heritages while maintaining individual identities within their respective communities is paramount. However, he stresses the educational opportunity this presents, enabling discussions about the significance of each holiday.
Another interfaith family, the Garcias, have a decade-long history of navigating Hanukkah and Christmas celebrations. Maris Garcia, who is Jewish, initially hesitated when her husband Antonio, of Puerto Rican Catholic background (now identifying as nonreligious), suggested a Christmas tree. However, they’ve found a harmonious balance. They utilize a symbolic wooden Christmas tree alongside their menorah, differentiating the celebrations by focusing on gifts for Christmas and family-oriented activities for Hanukkah. They maintain separate family gatherings for each holiday, ensuring both traditions are fully observed.
The “Chrismukkah” phenomenon, while sometimes viewed with reservation by some within the Jewish community, is seen by Rabbi Steven Philp of Mishkan Chicago as something to celebrate. He points to the syncretic nature of Jewish tradition, highlighting Hanukkah’s own adoption of customs from surrounding cultures. The increasing presence of Hanukkah in American retail and public life is, for him, a testament to the growing acceptance and safety Jews have experienced in the United States, although he acknowledges the recent rise in antisemitism.
Ultimately, the convergence of Hanukkah and Christmas Day provides a lens through which to examine the evolving dynamics of interfaith families in America, showcasing both the challenges and the potential for enriching understanding between traditions.