A dual celebration aptly named “Thanksgivukkah,”
In some ways, the pairing of Thanksgiving and Hanukkah is a natural fit. (photo credit: BigStockPhoto.com)
The holiday season is upon us which means Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, and Christmas are right around the corner. While these three events are normally celebrated on different days that spread from November through December, 2013 is a very unusual year and Thanksgiving and the first day of Hanukkah fall on the same day. This is so rare in fact that it won’t happen again for more than 70,000 years! The unusual nature of the coincidence is responsible for a phenomenon that is sweeping across the country, a dual celebration aptly named “Thanksgivukkah”.
In some ways, the pairing of Thanksgiving and Hanukkah is a natural fit. Thanksgiving celebrates the arrival of the first pilgrims who fled England because of religious persecution. Hanukkah is a remembrance of the struggle Jews encountered when the Temple was seized and simply practicing their religion could result in a death penalty. Both holidays commemorate the struggle for religious freedom and the right to live according to your own beliefs. These are ideals that most anyone can get behind, regardless of their faith, which may explain why this unusual occurrence has become a country-wide phenomenon.
Here are some creative ideas for combining the two holidays that will help you make the most of this once in a lifetime occurrence.
Let’s start by looking at what is served at a traditional dinner for each of the holidays.
On Thanksgiving, a traditional dinner includes roasted turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, and several vegetable side dishes. For dessert, pumpkin pie is a seasonal favorite on most Thanksgiving tables. These foods represent the types of food the pilgrims would have found or grown in their settlements.
During Hanukkah, traditional foods center on fried foods and cheese, both of which represent important traditions in the Jewish Faith. A typical Hanukkah meal would feature favorite Jewish dishes like matzo ball soup, brisket, challah bread, and kugel with Hanukkah specific dishes like latkes. Dessert is generally something fried like a donut or beignet.
If you compare the two menus, creating a delicious dinner that combines both traditions is not only possible, but could create some interesting combinations that may become family favorites for years to come. Pick and choose from these recipe ideas or create your own custom Thanksgivukkah dish that combines what your family loves most about both holiday traditions.
Meats
Sides
- Challah Wild Mushroom Herb Stuffing
- Pumpkin Kugel
- Popping Cranberry Sauce
- Horseradish Chive Masked Potatoes
- Sweet Potato Latkes
- Bread Kugel with Dried Fried and Sun-dried Tomatoes
- Balsamic Green Beans with Pine Nuts
- Basil Butter Sweet Potato Patties
- Acorn Squash with Pomegranate Seeds