Thanksgivukkah: A Truly Once-in-a-Lifetime Holiday

Thanksgivukkah

The year 2013 will go down in history for many things, some more pleasant than others. By and large one of the happier highlights of the year will be the rare chance to celebrate two major holidays in one. This year Hanukkah coincides with Thanksgiving, giving families twice as much to celebrate. The first full day of Hanukkah falls on Thursday, November 28, the same day as Thanksgiving. This holiday convergence is so rare it has been dubbed “Thanksgivukkah.”

On Thanksgiving Day, American families will carve the turkey and light the second candle on the menorah on the same night. While the two holidays have shared the same space on the calendar before, the occasion is an extremely rare occurrence. So rare, that it last took place in the year 1888. But that’s nothing compared to the next time this pairing comes along. The next time Thanksgivukkah will be celebrated will not happen for another 70,000 years. Holiday table conversation will no doubt center on this rare event and the added significance of this particular Hanukkah and Thanksgiving. Thanksgivukkah is truly a once-in-a-lifetime event.

There is more to the hybrid holiday than the sight of candied yams and sweet potato latkes on the same table. American Jewish families have much to be grateful for and much to celebrate. While the Thanksgiving holiday is quite different than the Jewish Hanukkah, there are actually more similarities than one might think. Thanksgiving and Hanukkah share much common ground. Both stories began with escape from religious persecution. Pilgrims flocked to the New World because they disagreed with the beliefs of the Church of England. The Jews in ancient times also fled religious persecution, as they rebelled against the process of worshiping Greek gods and false idols. Both groups sought freedom from tyranny and the chance to live and believe as they wished.

This special year, along with the turkey,stuffing and cranberries, parents and grandparents can celebrate Thanksgivukkah with traditional Hanukkah gelt. But we couldn’t let a once-in-the-next-70,000-years event take place without coming up with some special commemorative designs. Wait’ll you see the awesome chocolate coin designs we have in store for Thanksgivukkah 2013. Savor the season and the tradition with festive chocolate coins… Thanksgivukkah gelt! Get ’em while you can because you won’t see them again in this lifetime.

Ready or not, the holidays are upon us. In today’s fast-paced world where holidays and traditions can sometimes lose their true meaning in the quest for the newest iPad, Thanksgivukkah is so rare of an event that it deserves to have us acknowledge, if only for one day, what’s really important.

So get ready to carve that turkey & pass the latkes! Happy Thanksgivukkah, y’all!