#culture: HANUKKAH AND CHRISTMAS NUKKAH
Every evening, Jewish families light the candles on the Hanukkah menorah, the Hanukkah menorah. The eight-day Jewish Festival of Lights commemorates the rededication of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem in 164 BC: Although there was only enough consecrated oil for one day, and it took eight days to produce new consecrated oil, the menorahs in the Temple burned for eight days without going out. Hanukkah is not tied to highly religious rituals, but is primarily celebrated as a family celebration. In addition to lighting the candles, there are family meals, shared games, and small gifts.
According to the Jewish calendar, Hanukkah usually falls during the Christian Advent and Christmas seasons—also a time of joy, celebration, and gathering with loved ones, each with its own traditions. Since the mid-19th century, the customs of these two holidays have been intermingled, especially in secular Jewish families. Even Theodor Herzl , founder of the idea of a Jewish state, couldn't deny his children their wish for a Christmas tree: "As far as I'm concerned, it can be called the Hanukkah tree," he is said to have said, thus building a bridge between Christmas and the Jewish Festival of Lights.
A central element of both Hanukkah and Christmas is the use of lights, which illuminate the darkness and symbolize hope. Gift-giving and communal eating also fit into both traditions: since traditional Jewish holiday cuisine includes particularly fatty, greasy dishes, some families now serve a Hanukkah goose for the festive meal.
Today, 'Chrismukka' is especially popular in the USA. The English term 'Chrismukka' became very popular thanks to the television series 'The OC' (2003) . 'Chrismukka' or 'Chrismukka' reflects the blending of Christmas and Hanukkah traditions in interfaith families. This fusion allows for a celebration that embraces the diversity of cultures within one household. Speaking of the USA: one of the biggest American Christmas hits, "White Christmas ," was written by an Orthodox Jew from New York, Irving Berlin.
Our artistic director, Daniel Grossmann, has recorded a video in which he talks about Hanukkah and his family's celebration traditions. You can find it here.