Though I had never heard of Thanksgivukkah, I figured that it was not that big of a deal. I would guess that ever few years or so, it would be bound to happen that both holidays would land on the same day. In fact, I was very wrong, the last (and first) time both holidays were on the same day was in 1888 and the next time will not be until the year 79,811. Because the Jewish calendar is based of the moon, it is very different from the Gregorian calendar which is based off of the sun.
The two holidays, Thanksgiving and Hannukkah, are very important in my family because we can enjoy a time that is dedicated to being together and being grateful for what we have. Though there is still plenty of unfairness and hatred in the world, things are pretty great right now in 2013. I know that that things would have been quite different during the first Thanksgivukkah in 1888.As the Reconstruction period after the Civil War ended in 1877, the 1880s brought about a mass of hatred and white supremacy in the United States. Groups like the KKK were in, and democracy and peace were out. I am guessing that most of the Jews who lived in the U.S. at the time were not celebrating Thanksgivukkah because there was a great deal of tension at that time between whites and minority groups. Minorities like the Jews would not have had much reason to celebrate a country that seems to want to get rid of them. It is so amazing what a transformation has occurred that there is now such a greater acceptance of minorities in America. More and more examples of a changing America are emerging: gay marriage laws being passed and now Thanksgivukkah!
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