Thanksgivukkah

{{short description|Portmanteau neologism of Thanksgiving and Hanukkah convergence}}

Thanksgivukkah is a holiday name portmanteau neologism given to the convergence of the American holiday of Thanksgiving and the first day (and second night) of the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah on Thursday, November 28, 2013.{{cite web|author=Christine Byrne |url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/christinebyrne/thanksgivukkah |title=How To Celebrate Thanksgivukkah, The Best Holiday Of All Time |publisher=Buzzfeed |date=October 2, 2013 |access-date=October 10, 2013}}{{cite news|author=Stu Bykofsky |url=http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20131011_Thanks_for_Thanukkah_.html |title=Thanks for Thanukkah! |newspaper= Philadelphia Daily News |date=October 22, 2012 |access-date=October 11, 2013}}{{cite web|url=http://www.nrg.co.il/online/11/ART2/512/470.html |author=אלכס דורון וצביקה קליין |title=אירוע נדיר: חנוכה וחג ההודיה מתאחדים |language=he |publisher=Maariv |date= October 11, 2013|access-date=October 11, 2013}} It was the result of a rare coincidence between the lunisolar Hebrew calendar (whose dates reflect both the moon phase and the time of the solar year, and which can have between 353 and 385 days per year) and the Gregorian calendar.{{cite magazine|author=Katy Steinmetz |url=https://newsfeed.time.com/2013/11/01/everything-you-need-to-know-about-thanksgivukkah/ |title=What Is Thanksgivukkah? |magazine=TIME |date=November 1, 2013 |access-date=November 1, 2013}}{{cite news|url=http://www.nj.com/entertainment/dining/index.ssf/2013/10/thanksgivukkah.html |author=Vicki Hyman |title=Thanksgivukkah: New traditions for a Thanksgiving nosh |newspaper=The Star-Ledger |date=October 14, 2013 |access-date=October 14, 2013}}{{cite web|url=http://thanksgivukkahboston.com/four-questions-with-jonathan-mizrahi-jewish-calendar-math-whiz/ |author=Molly Parr|title=Four Questions with Jonathan Mizrahi, Jewish Calendar Math Whiz | Thanksgivukkah |publisher=Thanksgivukkahboston.com |date=September 30, 2013 |access-date=October 10, 2013}}{{cite news|url=http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/jewish-world-news/1.551699 |title=WATCH: Stephen Colbert laments Thanksgivukkah |newspaper=Haaretz |date=March 6, 2013 |access-date=October 11, 2013}} Because the calendars are not calculated the same way, Hanukkah appears from year to year on different dates on the Gregorian calendar, ranging from late November to early January.{{cite web|author=Ben Popken |url=http://www.today.com/money/chanukah-thanksgiving-mash-create-thanksgivukkah-8C11371625 |title=Chanukah and Thanksgiving mash-up to create 'Thanksgivukkah' |publisher=TODAY |date=September 19, 2013 |access-date=October 11, 2013}}{{cite news|author=Sharyn Jackson |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/11/08/thanksgivukkah-holiday/3478023/ |title=Thanksgivukkah pulls a chair up to the table |newspaper=USA Today |date=March 11, 2013 |access-date=November 9, 2013}}

The term "Thanksgivukkah" was trademarked by Dana Gitell, a Boston-area resident who, along with her sister-in-law, Deborah Gitell, created a Facebook page and a Twitter account devoted to the phenomenon and bought the URL.{{cite web|url=http://thanksgivukkahboston.com/four-questions-with-dana-gitell-creator-of-thanksgivukkah-com/ |author=Molly Parr|title=Four Questions with Dana Gitell, Creator of Thanksgivukkah.com |publisher=Thanksgivukkahboston.com |date=September 30, 2013 |access-date=October 10, 2013}} Boston Magazine reported that the idea was popular all over the U.S.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.bostonmagazine.com/news/blog/2013/10/17/thanksgivukkah-holiday-massachusetts-celebration/ |author=Steve Annear |title=Thanksgivukkah: Massachusetts Coins Term For Rare Holiday Celebration; Thanksgiving and Hanukkah won't fall on the same day for another 76,000 years, so people are making sure they celebrate with pride. |magazine=Boston Magazine |date=October 5, 2013 |access-date=October 17, 2013 |archive-date=October 18, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131018051631/http://www.bostonmagazine.com/news/blog/2013/10/17/thanksgivukkah-holiday-massachusetts-celebration/ |url-status=dead }}

There has been some disagreement about the name: the Manischewitz company, the country’s top producer of kosher food, has spelled the dual-holiday with one fewer "k" towards the end, as “Thanksgivukah”; and Israeli newspaper Haaretz posed the question: "Why 'Thanksgivukkah'? Why not 'Chanksgiving?'".{{cite news|last=Kaplan |first=Allison |url=http://www.haaretz.com/blogs/routine-emergencies/.premium-1.552131 |title=Hanukkah occupies Thanksgiving: Colbert hates it, Jews love it |newspaper=Haaretz |date=October 13, 2013 |access-date=October 13, 2013}} Haaretz points to a clip from The O.C., the source of the portmanteau "Chrismukkah", as the basis of the "Thanksgivukkah" portmanteau.

History

Thanksgiving Day fell during Hanukkah at least twice between 1863 (when Thanksgiving was proclaimed a U.S. federal holiday by President Abraham Lincoln) and 2013: in 1888 Thanksgiving was the first day of Hanukkah, and in 1899 it was the fourth day.{{cite web|url=http://www.jpost.com/Jewish-World/Jewish-Features/Thanksgivukka-Please-pass-the-turkey-stuffed-doughnuts-331952|work=Jerusalem Post|title= Thanksgivukka: Please pass the turkey-stuffed doughnuts|author=Amy Spiro|date=November 17, 2013|access-date=November 22, 2013}}{{cite web| url=http://www.timeanddate.com/calendar/?year=1918&country=34 |title=Calendar for the 1918, with a list of Jewish holidays below it |access-date=November 22, 2013}} The 1888 coincidence of Thanksgiving and Hanukkah attracted some media attention at the time, with the New York Herald reporting on joint Thanksgiving–Hanukkah services held in "various synagogues" and a sermon given by Rabbi Frederick de Sola Mendes.{{citation|title=Twin Festivals: A Memorable Day for the Hebrews of New York|newspaper=New York Herald|date=November 30, 1888}}

Thanksgiving occurred later in 1888 and 1899 than is possible under current U.S. law: as a result of changes between 1939 and 1941, Thanksgiving is always held on the fourth Thursday in November. The last time the fourth Thursday of November fell within Hanukkah before 2013 was in 1861, before Thanksgiving existed.{{Cite web | url=http://forward.com/articles/187288/lets-celebrate-the-convergence-of-thanksgiving-and/ |title = Let's Celebrate the Convergence of Thanksgiving and Hanukkah| date=November 13, 2013 }} As a result of this confusion, some media reports have mistakenly claimed that Thanksgivukkah had never occurred prior to 2013.{{cite news|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4438178,00.html |author= Levi Brackman|title=American Jews ready for Thanksgivukkah |publisher=Ynetnews.com |date= October 23, 2013|access-date=October 29, 2013}}{{cite news|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/eats/kutsher-tribeca-celebrates-thanksgivukkah-feast-article-1.1471942 |author=Justin Silverman |title=When Chanukah and Thanksgiving fall on the same day, it's "Thanksgivukkah" |newspaper=New York Daily News |date=October 1, 2013 |access-date=October 29, 2013}}{{cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/gene-marks/5-reasons-why-thanksgivin_b_4083898.html |title=5 Reasons Why Thanksgiving Has Been Ruined For Millions Of Jews |author=Gene Marks |work=Huffington Post |date= November 10, 2013|access-date=October 11, 2013}}

Because the Gregorian and Jewish calendars have slightly different average year lengths, over time they drift out of sync with each other. As a result of this, the first day of Hanukkah will not precede or coincide with Thanksgiving Day again in the foreseeable future. (One physicist has calculated that, if the Jewish calendar is not revised, Thursday, November 28 will not fall during Hanukkah again until the year 79811, once it has drifted all the way around the cycle of the Gregorian calendar and back to November. Many media sources have reported this "tongue-in-cheek" calculation as a serious estimate of the date of the next Thanksgivukkah.){{cite web|last=Mizrahi |first=Jonathan |url=http://jonathanmizrahi.blogspot.com/2013/01/hanukkah-and-thanksgiving-once-in.html |title=Some of You May Find this Interesting...: Hanukkah and Thanksgiving: A once in eternity overlap |publisher=Jonathanmizrahi.blogspot.com |date=January 14, 2013 |access-date=November 9, 2013}}{{cite web|author=Leanne Italie |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/gobble-tov-american-jews-ready-thanksgivukkah-20500393 |title=Gobble Tov! American Jews Ready for Thanksgivukkah |publisher=ABC News |date= October 8, 2013 |access-date=October 10, 2013}}{{cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/caryn-ganeles/thanksgivukkah-2013_b_4066174.html |author=Caryn Ganeles |title=What to Bring to Thanksgivukkah |work=Huffington Post |date=October 9, 2013 |access-date=October 10, 2013}}{{cite news|last=Harkov |first=Lahav |url=http://www.jpost.com/Features/In-Thespotlight/Weekly-Schmooze-Thanksgivukkahs-around-the-corner-327760 |title=Thanksgivukkah's around the corner |newspaper=The Jerusalem Post |date= October 3, 2013|access-date=October 10, 2013}}{{cite news|author=Herb Scribner |url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865588057/US-Jews-readying-for-Thanksgivukkah.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131012132701/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865588057/US-Jews-readying-for-Thanksgivukkah.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 12, 2013 |title=U.S. Jews readying for Thanksgivukkah |newspaper=Deseret News |date=October 9, 2013 |access-date=October 10, 2013}}{{cite news|last=Passy |first=Charles |url=http://stream.wsj.com/story/latest-headlines/SS-2-63399/SS-2-345940/ |title=When Holidays Collide, You Get The 'Menurkey' |newspaper=Wall Street Journal |date=October 3, 2013 |access-date=October 10, 2013}} However, since the Jewish day does not begin at midnight, but on the sunset before it, there will be two more years in which Hanukkah and Thanksgiving partially overlap, with the first night of Hanukkah beginning in the evening of Thanksgiving. These will be the evenings of Thursday, November 27, 2070 and Thursday, November 28, 2165.{{cite web| url=http://calendar.2net.co.il/annual-calendar.aspx?hebrew=false&year=2070 |title=Jewish and Gregorian calendars for the year 2070 |access-date=November 22, 2013}}{{cite magazine|author= Ben Blatt|url=http://www.slate.com/articles/life/explainer/2013/11/thanksgivukkah_when_will_hanukkah_overlap_with_other_holidays.html|title=Happy Valentinukkah's Day!|magazine=Slate|date=November 22, 2013|access-date=November 22, 2013}} (The most recent such year was 1918.){{cite web| url=http://calendar.2net.co.il/annual-calendar.aspx?hebrew=false&year=1918 |title=Jewish and Gregorian calendars for the year 1918 |access-date=November 22, 2013}}

Celebrations

File:Thanksgivukkah.jpg

Mayor Thomas Menino of Boston said he would proclaim November 28, 2013, “Thanksgivukkah,” saying through a spokeswoman: "This is a big deal, a once-in-a-lifetime event.”{{cite news|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/2013/10/18/the-marketing-frenzy-that-thanksgivukkah/HgmEBRd1W2OyxQuyMNh7hL/story.html |title=The marketing frenzy that is "Thanksgivukkah" |newspaper=The Boston Globe |date=October 18, 2013 |access-date=October 19, 2013}} Massachusetts State Representative Louis Kafka and local [http://www.davidpaskin.com rabbi David Paskin] planned to host a gathering close to Thanksgivukkah, that will include a turkey-shaped menorah to give to fellow representatives to put in the Massachusetts State House. U.S. President Barack Obama gave a speech likening the struggles of the Maccabees to those of the Pilgrims.{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/theoval/2013/11/27/obama-hanukkah/3770019/|title= Obama sends Hanukkah greetings|newspaper=USA Today|date=November 27, 2013|author=David Jackson|access-date=December 5, 2013}}

Macy's included a giant dreidel in its Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. The Dirty Sock Funtime Band wrote a song, "Hannukah, O Hannukah (Introducing the Menurkey!)", and included it in a show in New York City.{{cite web|url=http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Dirty-Sock-Funtime-Band-to-Perform-Nov-10-in-New-York-City-for-Album-Release-Thanksgivukkah-Season-Show-20131016# |title=Dirty Sock Funtime Band to Perform Nov. 10 in New York City for Album Release & Thanksgivukkah Season Show |website=Broadway World |date= October 16, 2013|access-date=October 18, 2013}} A rabbi in Mineola, Long Island, granted a pardon to a kosher turkey in honor of Thanksgivukkah.

A Los Angeles-based festival co-produced by Deborah Gitell and singer/songwriter Craig Taubman was held on November 29, 2013, at the Pico Union building, featuring the Moshav Band and hip hop rapper Kosha Dillz.{{cite news|url=http://www.dailynews.com/general-news/20131027/thanksgivukkah-fever-hits-the-southland |title='Thanksgivukkah' fever hits the Southland |newspaper=Los Angeles Daily News |date=October 23, 2013 |access-date=October 29, 2013}}{{cite news|last=Shmulovich |first=Michal |url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/thanksgivukkah-watch-eat-groan/ |title=Thanksgivukkah: Watch, eat, groan |newspaper=The Times of Israel |date=February 23, 2011 |access-date=November 17, 2013}} The festival was funded by a campaign on crowdfunding platform Jewcer.{{cite web|last=Lowenfeld |first=Jonah |url=http://www.jewishjournal.com/los_angeles/article/time_to_shop_for_thanksgivukkah |title=Time to shop for Thanksgivukkah |publisher=Jewish Journal |date=October 2, 2013 |access-date=October 10, 2013}} The Beth Tfiloh Congregation in Pikesville, Maryland, set off fireworks to celebrate Thanksgivukkah.{{cite news |last=Scharper |first=Julie |url=http://www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/dining/bs-ae-thanksgivukkah-20131115,0,5390214.story |title=When turkey met latke: Thanksgivukkah is a once-in-a-lifetime celebration |newspaper=Baltimore Sun |date=November 16, 2013 |access-date=November 16, 2013 |archive-date=April 26, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140426211227/http://www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/dining/bs-ae-thanksgivukkah-20131115,0,5390214.story |url-status=dead }}

President Obama recognized Thanksgivukkah at the official White House Hanukkah reception on December 5, singling out Menurkey-creator Asher Weintraub as well as Dana and Deborah Gitell for coining the phrase "Thanksgivukkah".{{Cite web|url = http://m.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/12/05/remarks-president-afternoon-hanukkah-reception|title = Remarks by the President at Afternoon Hanukkah Reception|date = December 5, 2013|access-date = December 6, 2013|archive-date = December 11, 2013|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131211224521/http://m.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/12/05/remarks-president-afternoon-hanukkah-reception|url-status = dead}}

Outside the United States, in London, England, the Saatchi Shul hosted a Thanksgivukka Friday night dinner. In Tel Aviv, Israel, Nefesh B'Nefesh co-hosted a Thanksgivukka Friday night dinner and clothing drive.{{cite news|last=Spiro |first=Amy |url=http://www.jpost.com/Jewish-World/Jewish-Features/Thanksgivukka-Please-pass-the-turkey-stuffed-doughnuts-331952 |title=Thanksgivukka: Please pass the turkey-stuffed doughnuts |newspaper=Jerusalem Post |date=November 16, 2013 |access-date=November 16, 2013}}

There have been parodies of it, by satirist Stephen Colbert and by satire news program Dish Nation. Comedian Yisrael Campbell starred in a fake movie trailer for a horror movie titled Happy Thanksgivukkah, where a gentile family's thanksgiving dinner is invaded by a large Jewish family celebrating Hannukah.{{cite news|last=Shamah |first=David |url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/the-horror-of-thanksgivukkah/ |title=The horror of Thanksgivukkah |newspaper=The Times of Israel |date=November 10, 2013 |access-date=November 16, 2013}}

There has been opposition to the holiday on the ground that the syncretism trivializes both festivals.{{cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rabbi-daniel-brenner/why-i-will-not-be-celebra_b_4221034.html |title=Why I Will Not Be Celebrating 'Thanksgivukkah' | Rabbi Daniel Brenner |work=Huffington Post |date=November 5, 2013 |access-date=November 9, 2013}} An Anti-Thanksgivukkah anthem was featured in Heeb Magazine and subsequently in The Jewish Daily Forward.{{cite web|author=RSS |url=http://heebmagazine.com/finally-anti-thanksgivukkah-anthem/48315 |title=Finally, An Anti-Thanksgivukkah Anthem! |publisher=Heeb |date=November 4, 2013 |access-date=November 9, 2013}}{{cite web|url=http://blogs.forward.com/the-shmooze/187117/the-anti-thanksgivukkah-anthem-youve-been-waiting/ |title=The Anti-Thanksgivukkah Anthem You've Been Waiting For – The Shmooze |publisher=The Forward |access-date=November 9, 2013}}

Jewish a cappella singing group Six13 released a music video on November 25, 2013, entitled "The Thanksgivukkah Anthem," which recounts both holidays' history and celebrates the fact that they were occurring on the same day.

Food

File:Turkey chopped liver.jpg

Numerous suggestions were publicly made for combinations of traditional dishes of both holidays. BuzzFeed posted "How to Celebrate Thanksgivukkah, the Best Holiday of All Time," with recipes for Manischewitz-brined turkey with challah apple stuffing and latkes with cranberry applesauce.{{cite news|url=http://www.mercurynews.com/food-wine/ci_24293445/thanksgiv-ukkah-plans?source=rss |title=Thanksgiv-ukkah plans? |author=Jessica Yadegaran|newspaper=San Jose Mercury News |date=October 15, 2013 |access-date=October 16, 2013}} Others focused on sweet potato latkes, latke-crusted turkey cutlets, stuffing a turkey with challah bread, pecan pie rugelach, turkey doughnuts, pumpkin kugel, sufganiyot filled or topped with a sweet cranberry or apple compote or canned pumpkin, and sweet potato, prune and carrot tzimmes.{{cite web|author=Joanna Prisco |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Lifestyle/nyc-bakery-fries-thanksgivukkah-turkey-doughnuts/story?id=20816272 |title=NYC Bakery Fries Up Thanksgivukkah Turkey Doughnuts |publisher=ABC News |date=November 7, 2013 |access-date=November 9, 2013}}{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/food/recipes-for-latke-crusted-turkey-cutlets-and-meyer-lemon-applesauce/2013/10/21/b31d4366-3a93-11e3-b0e7-716179a2c2c7_story.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20131021220554/http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/food/recipes-for-latke-crusted-turkey-cutlets-and-meyer-lemon-applesauce/2013/10/21/b31d4366-3a93-11e3-b0e7-716179a2c2c7_story.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 21, 2013 |title=Recipes for latke-crusted turkey cutlets and Meyer lemon applesauce |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=October 21, 2013 }} {{cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dana-holmes/how-to-plan-your-thanksgi_b_4143038.html |title=How to Plan Your Thanksgivukkah |author=Dana Holmes |work=Huffington Post |date= October 22, 2013|access-date=October 29, 2013}}{{cite magazine|url=http://www.timeoutchicago.com/things-to-do/chicago-blog/16476141/thanksgivukkah-specials-hanukkah-meets-thanksgiving |title=Thanksgivukkah specials: Hanukkah meets Thanksgiving |magazine=Time Out Chicago |date=November 5, 2013 |access-date=November 9, 2013}}{{cite news|url=http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2013/11/07/bakery-creates-turkey-doughnut-for-thanksgivukkah/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109004126/http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2013/11/07/bakery-creates-turkey-doughnut-for-thanksgivukkah/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 9, 2013 |title=Bakery creates a turkey doughnut for Thanksgivukkah |publisher=Fox News |date= November 7, 2013|access-date=November 9, 2013}}{{cite news|author=Adam Withnall |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/new-york-bakery-combines-best-of-thanksgiving-and-hanukkah-by-inventing-the-turkey-and-cranberry-doughnut-8927452.html |title=New York bakery combines 'best' of Thanksgiving and Hanukkah by inventing the turkey and cranberry doughnut |newspaper=The Independent |date= November 7, 2013|access-date=November 9, 2013 |location=London}}

Lower Manhattan restaurant Kutsher’s Tribeca announced that it would serve a three-course Thanksgivukkah dinner, including sweet potato latkes topped with melted marshmallows. The Manischewitz company launched a multimillion-dollar multimedia campaign in support of the holiday.Stuart Elliot, [https://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/21/business/media/carve-the-turkey-and-pass-the-latkes-as-holidays-converge.html?_r=0 "Carve the Turkey and Pass the Latkes, as Holidays Converge"], The New York Times, October 21, 2013

Chicago chef and 2013 Kosherfest honoree Laura Frankel, Executive Chef at Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership, curated a menu of Thanksgivukkah dishes that included culinary hybrids like pumpkin-spice latkes and turkey schnitzel with thyme and orange zest.name="Brian Zimmerman, [http://www.spertus.edu/news/what-eat-thanksgivukkah "What to Eat On Thanksgivukkah"], November 1, 2013

Products and shopping

Thanksgivukkah was characterized by products promoted on and sold online. Funds of over $48,000 to produce a turkey-shaped menorah, dubbed a "menurkey," were raised by nine-year-old Asher Weintraub in Manhattan, New York, via a Kickstarter campaign.{{cite news|url=http://www.marketwatch.com/story/enough-thanksgiving-leftovers-for-eight-nights-2013-10-04 |author=Charles Passy |title=Hanukkah-Thanksgiving mash-up: 'Thanksgivukkah' |publisher=MarketWatch |date=October 5, 2013|access-date=October 13, 2013}}{{cite news|last=Davidovich |first=Joshua |url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/us-jews-ready-for-thanksgivukkah/ |title=US Jews ready for Thanksgivukkah |newspaper=The Times of Israel |date=October 9, 2013 |access-date=October 13, 2013}}{{cite magazine|url=http://www.tabletmag.com/scroll/142045/ring-in-thanksgivukkah-with-a-menurkey |title=Ring in 'Thanksgivukkah' With a 'Menurkey'; Thanksgiving and Hanukkah overlap this year; accessorize accordingly|author=Stephanie Butnick |magazine=Tablet Magazine |date= August 21, 2013|access-date=October 10, 2013}}{{cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2013/10/11/hanukkah-and-thanksgiving-mashup-to-create-thanksgivukkah.html |author=Ben Popken |title=Hanukkah and Thanksgiving mashup to create 'Thanksgivukkah' |publisher=CNBC |date=October 11, 2013 |access-date=October 11, 2013}}{{cite news|last=Nussbaum |first=Debra |url=http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/jewish-world-news/.premium-1.552376 |title=From menurkeys to T-shirts, Thanksgivukkah generates big bucks |newspaper=Haaretz |date=October 13, 2014 |access-date=October 16, 2013}} A crafter in Seattle, Washington, created another Thanksgiving-inspired menorah after she saw a camel menorah and decided she needed a "Turkorah". Some suggested that the holiday shopping season would be impacted by the convergence, and that retailers might have earlier holiday promotions.{{cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/11/holiday-shopping-calendar_n_4080478.html| author= Kim Bhasin |title=Get Ready For A Freaky-Deaky, Deal-Filled, Super-Early Holiday Shopping Frenzy |work=Huffington Post |date=October 11, 2013|access-date=October 11, 2013}}{{cite news|author=Doreen Christensen |url=http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/fl-doreen-christensen-christmas-2013-hot-toys-20131013,0,2298066.column |title=Toy shopping before Thanksgivukkah? Oy vey |publisher=Sun Sentinel |date= October 13, 2013|access-date=October 13, 2013}} A Thanksgivukkah pop-up store opened in Atlanta, and the Manischewitz company produced a line of products for this day.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-11-14/so-much-fun-akkah-to-celebrate-thanksgivukkah |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131116150145/http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-11-14/so-much-fun-akkah-to-celebrate-thanksgivukkah |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 16, 2013 |title=Thanksgiving + Hanukkah = Thanksgivukkah ... and a Merchandising Blitz |magazine=Business Week |access-date=November 16, 2013}}

Similarities between Thanksgiving and Hanukkah

While the imagery and products surrounding the day were light-hearted, advocates contended it had a broader significance resonant with American democracy. “There are amazing similarities between the Pilgrims’ quest for religious freedom and what the Maccabees were fighting for,” one advocate told the New York Daily News, referring to the Hanukkah story of Judah Maccabee, who led the Hebrews’ fight for freedom from and military victory over the Greeks in the 2nd century BC. “This a great opportunity for Jewish Americans to celebrate this country and for everyone to acknowledge the greatness of our shared religious freedoms.” In 1888, the New York Herald wrote that "The two festivals merged well together," describing Hanukkah as "a thanksgiving festival for deliverance from… tyranny". A "Thanksgivukkah Manifesto" has been penned, claiming that it is the ideal holiday for increasingly secular American Jews.Rabbi Mishael Zion, [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rabbi-mishael-zion/a-thanksgivukkah-manifest_b_4214556.html A Thanksgivukkah Manifesto], Huffington Post, retrieved November 5, 2014

Additionally, some have claimed that both Hanukkah{{bibleverse|2|Maccabees|10:6|NRSV}} and Thanksgiving{{cite journal|last=Seiglie|first=Mario|title=Is Thanksgiving Rooted in a Biblical Festival?|journal=The Good News|date=November 2011|url=http://www.ucg.org/holidays-and-holy-days/thanksgiving-rooted-biblical-festival/|access-date=November 28, 2013|publisher=United Church of God}} have roots in the Jewish harvest festival of Sukkot.

Similar holidays

Chrismukkah is a portmanteau neologism referring to the merging of the holidays of Christianity's Christmas and Judaism's Hanukkah. The term was popularized by the TV drama The O.C. Chrismukkah is also celebrated as an ironic, alternative holiday.{{cite news |first=Michael |last=McCarthy |title=Have a merry little Chrismukkah |url=https://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/retail/2004-12-15-chrismukkah_x.htm |work=USA Today |date=December 16, 2004 |access-date=December 28, 2006}} Similar neologisms such as ChrismahanukwanzakahAmann, Joseph and Tom Breuer (2007). Fair and Balanced, My Ass!: An Unbridled Look at the Bizarre Reality of Fox News. New York: Nation Books. {{ISBN|1-56858-347-8}} and HanuKwanzMas{{cite news| title= Diversity Calendar| date= December 2005| work= Cincinnati| volume= 39| number= 3| page= 66 |issn= 0746-8210}} blend Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa.

In A Kosher Christmas: 'Tis the Season to Be Jewish (Rutgers University Press, 2012), author Rabbi Joshua Eli Plaut discusses the phenomenon of hybrid Jewish holidays such as Chrismukkah during the December holiday season in the US, and the Americanization of Hanukkah and the holiday season for Jews.{{cite web|url=http://www.akosherchristmas.org |publisher= | website= akosherchristmas.org |title= A Kosher Christmas | 'Tis the Season to be Jewish|date=November 30, 2012 |access-date=November 16, 2013}}