What Is Chrismukkah?

This year, the first night of Hanukkah falls on December 25. So why is it so close to Christmas this year? The Jewish calendar is lunar-solar, which means it follows the cycles of the moon but sometimes has to be corrected by the sun (with an extra month added) to make sure the Jewish holidays stay in the right season. For example, Hanukkah stays in December, bringing light to winter.

Amy Brightfield

Let There Be Lights!

While the two holidays are distinctly different, both are stories of hope in the middle of the coldest time of year when the days are short. So it’s no wonder that lights are a central element.

After the destruction of one of the ancient temples, there was only enough oil left to last one day. But a miracle occurred, and the oil lasted eight days. To commemorate this, on each of the eight days of Hanukkah (also known as The Festival of Lights), we light candles on a menorah.

We also display various forms of light around the house. I string blue and white lights around our fireplace mantel and doorways and hang strands of twinkle lights in the dining and living room. My husband can't wait for December 1, when he pulls out the ladder and hangs lights around our porch and garage. The porch gets traditional multi-colored Christmas lights, while the garage gets Hanukkah-themed blue and white. We alternate the locations from year to year.

Go Bold with Wrapping Paper

Hanukkah lasts eight days, and we give multiple presents each night. Combine that with Christmas, and that's a lot of wrapping paper. For presents under the tree, I use a mix of wrapping paper in festive colors outside the usual green and red. A few of my favorite combos are silver wrapping paper with blue ribbon (giving a nod to the traditional Hanukkah colors), gold paper with white or green ribbon, and a plaid in blue and white with a touch of pink, red, and black.

I also look for festive patterns that aren't tied to a specific holiday—for example, designs that feature stars or starbursts. Another go-to of mine for wrapping gifts is using materials around the house, like brown paper bags or parchment paper, which can be dressed up with colorful ribbons and natural elements like dried flowers and greenery.

How to Wrap Gifts Like a Pro

Create a Menorah Display

Sometimes it can feel like Hanukkah runs a little short on decorations you can keep up throughout the holiday season. Since we have a Christmas tree up for much of December, we figured out a way to showcase the menorah, the centerpiece of Hanukkah.

Instead of just taking the menorah out when it's time to light the candles, we create a display of multiple menorahs with different designs. Each one has a special meaning: My mom gave me one as a gift, my son made one in preschool, and another has an animal for each candle holder, giving a nod to our family's love of animals and pets. This menorah, made from faux marble concrete (that you can make yourself!), is also a part of my display.