Wishing A Happy Holiday Season To All: Christmas And Hanukkah!

The holiday season is a time for celebration, but it can also be a time of uncertainty when it comes to greeting people from different faiths. While Happy Holidays is a safe bet, it can feel generic, and many people prefer a more specific greeting. For those celebrating both Christmas and Hanukkah, a simple Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah can be a great way to acknowledge both holidays. This greeting is often used by interfaith families, and there are even greeting cards available that celebrate both occasions.

The greeting is a way to be inclusive of diverse beliefs and traditions

The greeting "Merry Merry Christmas and Hanukkah" is a way to be inclusive of diverse beliefs and traditions. It acknowledges and respects the celebrations of two major world religions, Christianity and Judaism, and their respective holidays, Christmas and Hanukkah. This inclusive greeting is especially relevant in societies with significant Christian and Jewish populations, where individuals from both faiths coexist and interact regularly.

The history of this informal merger between Christmas and Hanukkah, often referred to as "Chrismukkah," dates back to 19th-century Germany and Austria. In German-speaking countries, the term "Weihnukka" combined "Weihnachten" (Christmas) and "Hanukkah." This merging of holidays emerged within middle-class Jews and gained popularity due to interfaith marriages and a desire to maintain both religious traditions.

In modern times, the greeting "Merry Merry Christmas and Hanukkah" can be seen as a way to foster inclusivity and respect for diverse beliefs and traditions. It acknowledges that individuals from different religious backgrounds may coexist within the same society and interact during their respective holiday seasons. By offering a combined greeting, individuals can show respect for both faiths and avoid assuming that everyone celebrates the same holiday.

Inclusivity requires recognizing and valuing diversity, ensuring access and a welcoming environment for people from all backgrounds. Using an inclusive greeting like "Merry Merry Christmas and Hanukkah" can be one aspect of creating an inclusive atmosphere during the holiday season. It demonstrates an awareness of the variety of religious traditions and a willingness to celebrate and respect those differences.

However, it is important to note that some individuals may prefer more specific greetings, such as "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Hanukkah," as these wishes directly acknowledge their specific religious holiday. Therefore, using "Merry Merry Christmas and Hanukkah" should be considered one tool in a broader effort to create an inclusive environment, respecting diverse beliefs and traditions.

The term Chrismukkah was popularised by the TV drama The O.C

The term Chrismukkah, a portmanteau of the words Christmas and Hanukkah, was popularised by the TV drama series The O.C. in 2003. In the show, the character Seth Cohen, who comes from an interfaith household with a Jewish father and a Protestant mother, creates the holiday to celebrate both faiths.

In one episode, Seth introduces his "super holiday" as:

> "...eight days of presents, followed by one day of many presents....It pays homage to the traditions of New York City and Newport Beach... [it] represents a blending of cultures, tolerance, inclusiveness, and celebration that the Cohen household practices."

The O.C. included annual Chrismukkah episodes for every season of its run, each packed with drama and memorable moments. The first Chrismukkah episode, titled "The Best Chrismukkah Ever", featured a big party, a drunk Marissa, and a Summer vs. Anna party extravaganza, with Summer in a Wonder Woman costume.

The term Chrismukkah was also used in the 1990s sitcom Friends, where Jewish characters Rachel, Ross and Monica celebrated Christmas with their Christian friends. However, it was The O.C. that brought the term into the mainstream and made it widely popular.

“Happy Holidays” is the most inclusive greeting

“Happy Holidays” is a greeting that has been adopted by many as a way to wish others well during the holiday season without assuming that they are celebrating a specific holiday such as Christmas or Hanukkah. This phrase is often seen as more inclusive than saying “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Hanukkah” alone, as it acknowledges that people from different religious and cultural backgrounds may be celebrating different holidays during this time.

While some people appreciate the inclusivity of “Happy Holidays,” others have expressed that they find it too general and prefer to receive greetings specific to the holiday they are celebrating. For example, a person who celebrates Hanukkah may prefer to be wished a “Happy Hanukkah” rather than a “Happy Holidays,” as the latter can feel like an attempt to lump their holiday together with Christmas. Similarly, a person who celebrates Christmas may appreciate the traditional “Merry Christmas” greeting and not see it as offensive to those who celebrate other holidays.

The debate over the appropriate holiday greeting often centres around the idea of inclusion and respect for different cultures and religions. Some people feel that saying “Happy Holidays” is a way to be respectful of the diversity of beliefs and traditions during the holiday season. On the other hand, others argue that this phrase dilutes the significance of their specific holiday and that true inclusion means acknowledging and respecting the unique aspects of each celebration.

Ultimately, the “Happy Holidays” greeting is an attempt to be inclusive and considerate of the variety of holidays celebrated by different individuals and groups. Whether one chooses to use this phrase or a more specific greeting, the important thing is to approach the holiday season with an attitude of respect and goodwill towards others, regardless of their religious or cultural background.

Merry Christmas can make non-Christians feel marginalised

Saying "Merry Christmas" can make non-Christians feel marginalised, as it assumes that everyone is celebrating Christmas and ignores the fact that there are other religious festivals that overlap with the Christmas period. For example, the Jewish festival of Hanukkah often coincides with Christmas, and the expectation of its celebration has been elevated by American Jewry into something far more complex than it was ever meant to be.

The merger of Christmas and Hanukkah, known as "Chrismukkah", first arose in the 19th century in German-speaking countries within middle-class Jews. After World War II, Chrismukkah became particularly popular in the United States due to interfaith marriages between Jews and Christians. However, not all Jews appreciate the Christmas-ification of Hanukkah, as it assumes that they want to celebrate a more generalised holiday season.

To be truly inclusive, it is important to acknowledge and respect the different religious festivals that occur during the winter season. Instead of saying "Merry Christmas", a more inclusive greeting could be "Happy Holidays". This phrase is more conservative and reserved than "Merry Christmas", which conveys a more emotional and unrestrained celebration. By saying "Happy Holidays", you are not roping non-Christians into celebrating Christmas and are instead acknowledging that they may be celebrating a different holiday.

Another way to be inclusive is to learn how to say "Merry Christmas" in different languages. For example, in Afrikaans, you can say "Geseënde Kersfees". By taking the time to learn how to say "Merry Christmas" in someone's native language, you are showing that you care about being inclusive and are making an effort to connect with them on a more personal level.

Ultimately, the best way to spread cheer during the holiday season is to be respectful and acknowledge that not everyone celebrates the same holidays. By being mindful of different cultural and religious traditions, you can help make everyone feel included and valued.

Happy Hanukkah and Merry Christmas cards exist for interfaith families

The merging of Christmas and Hanukkah, or "Chrismukkah", first arose in the 19th century within middle-class Jews in German-speaking countries. After World War II, Chrismukkah became particularly popular in the United States, but is also celebrated in other countries. The term was popularized by the TV drama "The O.C." in 2003, in which the character Seth Cohen creates the holiday to signify his upbringing in an interfaith household with a Jewish father and a Protestant mother.

The proximity of the Hanukkah festival, which usually falls in November/December, to Christmas, led to the so-called "December Dilemma" for Jewish families living in largely Christian societies. Many Jewish families in the 19th century adopted elements of Christmas tradition in the Hanukkah festival, such as gifts or money.

The popularity of Chrismukkah led to the creation of humorous greeting cards and other merchandise. In 2004, Chrismukkah.com was launched by Ron and Michelle Gompertz, a Jewish-Christian couple, selling Chrismukkah greeting cards and dispensing detailed mythology about the fictional holiday. The website was widely credited with popularizing Chrismukkah to a non-television-watching audience.

The existence of Chrismukkah greeting cards and the celebration of Chrismukkah by interfaith families is a testament to the desire to find common ground and celebrate each other's traditions during the holiday season.

Frequently asked questions