Oh, a chat! Let’s listen in…
Christmas: Hey, Chanukah, how’s it going? On your, what, 4th night now?
Chanukah: Yup. And you’re still three weeks away, I see.
Christmas: Why are we so far apart this year?
Chanukah: Happens.
Christmas: I don’t like it. Prefer you were closer to me, so your people and mine could celebrate at the same time!
Chanukah: I’m usually closer to you. But maybe I prefer it this way. Everyone thinks I’m just a Jewish version of you anyway, when that is so not true.
Christmas: Well, you’re similar in a way.
Chanukah: How so? My celebration is about our candle oil lasting eight days instead of just one when we were trying to rededicate our temple after we were attacked. Yours is about… God having a kid.
Christmas: I mean the lights! Yes, there was Jesus, but that involved a big star lighting up the night sky. Yours too involves lots of lights when things looked dark. Not to mention countless other Winter Solstice celebrations that have merged with me, all with the same basic idea of celebrating light and warmth when the world is otherwise cold and dark.
Chanukah: Yeah, that’s another reason I don’t want to get too close to you. You’re sort of a December holiday Wal-Mart. It seems every single Winter Solstice or other celebration this time of year has just gotten sucked into you. Well, it’s not happening to me!
Christmas: It’s not so bad. Look, your days jump around all the time. Maybe if you were more a part of me, they’d be set days for once. Less confusing.
Chanukah: *choke* What?! I do begin on a set day. I start on the 25th of Kislev. The Gregorian calendar isn’t the only calendar, you know!
Christmas: Okay, okay. I’m sorry. But, hey, we’re both the 25th of a month! That’s something!
Chanukah: No, it’s not. Just… stop. We’re not merging. Menorahs and dreidls will not be part of you. They’re ours.
Christmas: Well, that doesn’t seem fair. Everyone can join us! Trees and wreaths and candy canes and presents for all!
Chanukah: It’s just a matter of preserving our traditions. Besides, we do have presents. We give gifts on each of the eight nights.
Christmas: Ah, you do exchange gifts then?
Chanukah: Yup. Our families meet for meals, light the candles, exchange the gifts, sing songs, play games, and do all sorts of other things.
Christmas: I’ve pretty much got all that, too.
Chanukah: So it’s even less reason for a merger. Besides, plenty of my people still celebrate Christmas.
Christmas: And that’s wonderful. The more the merrier.
Chanukah: 🙂
Christmas: Ohhhh… I see what you did there…
