Rant #1,807: Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree (and the Menorah, Too)

So on Saturday, December 24, we will have the first recent confluence of the Christmas and Hanukkah holidays, where the first night of Hanukkah is at the very same time as Christmas Eve, making Sunday, December 25 not only Christmas Day, but the first full day of Hanukkah (and in the evening, the second night of this Jewish celebration).

It doesn't happen very often, but this is not the first time the two holidays have collided into each other, and it won't be the last time either.

But yes, it is quite unusual, and gives some even more reason to blend the holidays, even though the two celebrations have nothing at all to do with each other.

Christmas Day always comes on December 25, but Hanukkah can occur anywhere from late November to late December, based on the Hebrew calendar, which is much different than the calendar we normally use.

But this year, the two holidays are literally on top of each other.

I think that that has its good and bad points.

The good is that we, as a culture, as Americans, can basically celebrate the two holidays at the same time, together, which is good for the department stores as well as for our souls.

The bad is that Christmas, being what it is, is like the Super Bowl of holidays, and it consumes everything in its path, so Hanukkah might get short shrift this year.

But that being said, both are spectacular holidays, and whichever one you follow, the spirit of the holiday is there for all to enjoy.

Sure, the meaning of each holiday often gets lost in these holidays' overt commerciality--or what they have become in 2016--but each has an important religious aspect, which we all know and I am not going to get into here.

It is kind of sad that that often gets lost in all the hoopla, but I am sure many of us do our best to remember that angle of the holiday, and try to pass it on to the next generation.

But whatever the case and however these holidays are celebrated, they are truly wonderful events, wonderful occasions, and prime family time.

So whatever holiday you celebrate, you and your family have a good one.

I have the day off on Monday, December 26, so I will speak to you again on Tuesday, December 27.

(And by the way, my sister's birthday is on Monday, Boxing Day is on that day, and the first day of Kwanzaa is too, so what a day to have off! I can't wait to just do nothing and just relax!)