This misunderstanding of the importance to Jews of Hannukah is no more apparent then when I am asked, by otherwise educated and well-meaning gentiles, "Do you also celebrate Christmas?" Never mind the constant and well-intended refrain of "Merry Christmas!"
I admit it is difficult or too-time consuming sometimes to simply say "I celebrate Hannukah, not Christmas," as I sling my bags of goods over my shoulder, herald my young child out in front ,
Never have I asked (nor would I) to non-Jews "Do you also celebrate Hannukah?" It may be true however, that some Jews and Christians, perhaps those involved in inter-faith marriages, may observe both.
The commercial aspect of Hannukah has spread far. Stores like "Home Goods" carry a small but prominant array of products for Hannukah. One may purchase everything from Hannukay cookie sprinkles, to aprons and potholders festooned with menorahs and Stars of David.
Marshall's, a popular clothing store, sells Hannukah-themed plates and coffee mugs. The Disney Company, never to be outdone, offers expensive glass snow globes featuring Mickey Mouse sitting at a potters wheel crafting dreidels. The globe, which I admit I bought for my daughter Hannah, plays "Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel."
We were even presented with a Jewish advent calendar! Lovely as it is, these gimmicks are all embellishments for a holiday that is simple in its message and relatively unadorned by comparison to other holidays, like Christmas.
Educating a child about Hannukah in an environment placarded with wreaths and trees and strings of lights is difficult. My young daughter, caught up (understandably) in the high-visability business of Christmas exclaimed "Christmas is prettier!"
Paring away the glitter and the increasing superficiality of Hannukah "Hallmark style," and getting down to the essence of the holiday is important for Jewish children (and adults) so that they do not forget its meaning.
The rampant commercialization of Hanukkah, a more subdued holiday than the highly visable and commercial Christmas celebration, is beginning to blur the lines between the two holidays that have no bearing on one another, other than that they fall near each other.
Hanukkah, which means , commemorates the defeat of the mighty Syrian army, under the despotic King Antiochus IV, by a band of Jewish farmers over two thousand years ago. King Antiochus had banned Jewish holidays and killed Jews who did not agree to worship Zeus.
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