Chanukah and Christmas coincide this holiday season
SANTA BARBARA, Calif.-Whether you spell it Chanukah or Hanukkah, the Jewish holiday is based on the lunisolar calendar and therefore the dates of the eight day festival of light changes from year to year.
"Chanukah goes according the Jewish calendar so it is all over the calendar sometimes at the beginning of December sometimes at the end of December and just the main thing is to light up the night,"said Rabbi Mendel Loschak.
In 2013 is fell on Thanksgiving and people coined the term "Thanksgivukkah."
This year it coincides with Christmas.
During a Family Chanukah Party hosted by the Jewish Federation of Greater Santa Barbara and Community Shul Rabbi Arthur Gross-Schaefer commented on their are similarities.
"Its not just Hanukkah not just Christmas there is a winter solstice and then you have also Kwanzaa African American tradition and Diwali you have a lot of different holidays and it is about acknowledging because they all focus on light," said Gross-Schaefer.
Fr. Egren Gomez of the Holy Cross Catholic Church said the holidays should welcome all people to the table.
“Something that most of us take for granted is the fact that Jesus was Jewish, that Jesus was Jewish and we don’t realize that and it makes a lot of sense; Jesus is a big contradiction that embodies this unification of opposing thoughts and communities, “ said Gomez.
Fr. Tom Elewaut of the Old Mission Basilica San Buenaventura helped light a Christmas tree outside the Mission and placed a menorah on his dining table this year.
"God brings light into darkness and where King Antiochus tried to destroy the temple god brought light and gave hope to the Maccabees, through the nativity Jesus brings light to all peoples," said Elewaut, "So, whether your heart be in a Chanukah candle or the heart of a baptismal candle Hanukkah blessings, Merry Christmas to all."
Jewish Federation Executive Director Cyndi Silverman said the religious celebrations make saying happy holidays more meaningful and appropriate this year.
Faith leaders hope people will visit places of worship or find time to contemplate and enjoy the season in their own way this month.
