Those of you familiar with my crazy holiday adventures know that I celebrate both Hanukkah and Christmas or Christmukah as we call it in my home. We feel that it’s the best of both worlds. I’m Jewish and my husband isn’t, so we don’t want our kids to miss out on the fun or to not celebrate our beloved holidays with our extended families. While the focus is on Hanukkah, we have Christmas dinner and exchange gifts but there is no tree. Trust me when I tell you, our kids are not confused. In fact, they know very well that they are about to receive twice as many gifts as their friends.
The thing is, living in Canada, if you don’t celebrate Christmas, your kids are going to call you out on it. They’re going to want the tree, the lights, the stockings, the Elf (on the shelf) and a lot of toys. It’s up to me, as the parent, to explain to them why we don’t have all of those things but to also make Hanukkah just as exciting. We have the “lights” aspect of the holiday covered by lighting up the candelabra (known as the Chanukia) every night for eight days and while my kids won’t be receiving a toy every night for eight days, they will receive a few gifts over the week.
Since my boys are slightly obsessed with Kinder Surprise eggs (one loves them for the chocolate, the other for the surprise), I’ve decided to start a new tradition. For those nights when they won’t be receiving a toy gift, our Mensch on the Bench (the Jewish answer to The Elf on the Shelf), lovingly called Mr. Shamash (the helper candle used to light the candelabra), will surprise them with a Kinder Surprise Egg. He’ll be our Jewish Santa, if there was such a thing. I’ll even be giving them a Kinder Hollow Santa and a Kinder Surprise Christmas egg. It’s the perfect coming together of the two holidays and a great transition into Christmas.
After all, the holidays are about family and celebrating. They are about the magic of the holidays and seeing it through the eyes of the kids. I want my kids to cherish and love Hanukkah as much as they do any other holiday we celebrate. I hope that their memories when they grow up are happy ones and perhaps they will continue on with some of the great new traditions that we’ve started when they have a family of their own.
Happy Hanukkah, Happy Christmas, Happy Kwanza, Happy Christmukah, Happy Holidays whatever you celebrate!
“Mensch on the Bench” – LOVE that!! I applaud your willingness to create new traditions, while still teaching your children about their heritage and religion. So many people get caught up in the notion of how we are different because we celebrate differently, that they don’t stop to see how the spirit of the season can unite us. Happy Hanukkah to you and your family (and Happy Christmukah, too!)
Love that you have found ways to honour both, that is a very memorable thing to do for the kids. also, mine love them too … ok and me as well! 😉
Sounds like you have struck a perfect balance of traditions. And I am loving the Mensch on the Bench. So adorable. Happy Holidays!
This is a great tradition. I love reading how people celebrate.
This post makes me HAPPY! What every you call the holiday at the end of the day they all are what makes our families happy and that is all the matters. I love that Kinder can be used for all the holidays families across Canada celebrate. Wishing you and your beautiful family a HAPPY HAPPY Holiday! XO
Super cute tradition!