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Merrick, NY—In a once-in-a-lifetime event (the last time was 1888), Thanksgiving and the first night of Hanukkah fall on the same date this year. While this leads to many opportunities for humor like “Thanksgivukkah,” or menurkey, the blending of turkey and a menorah, symbols of the two holidays, the fact is Hanukkah actually bears a much truer relationship to Thanksgiving than to Christmas.

Judaism follows a lunar calendar, which is why the various Jewish holidays and festivals move around from year to year with regard to the standard Gregorian calendar. The close proximity of Hanukkah to Christmas led to its popular positioning as a Jewish counterpart to Christmas, but in fact it celebrates the successful revolt against the Greek-Syrian king Antiochus in the second century BCE. Antiochus hoped that by preventing Jews from celebrating their religious traditions, they would convert to the Hellenic culture. Had that happened, not only would Judaism have likely died out, but it's also likely that neither Christianity nor Islam--which both share common roots with Judaism--would have developed.

Antiochus’s army took over the Holy Temple in Jerusalem and introduced idol worship, the antithesis of Judaism’s belief in one God. But Judah Maccabee led the Jews in a revolt, recaptured the Temple, and rededicated it. They had only enough oil on hand to light the Temple's eternal lamp for one day, but miraculously it lasted for eight days.

As a result, the celebration of Hanukkah is one of thanksgiving—both for the oil that lasted until more could be brought and for the Jews' freedom to practice their religion—and it is celebrated by lighting candles for eight days, in the special candelabra called a menorah.

Thanksgiving, of course, was established by the English Pilgrims—mostly Puritans, and also some Quakers—who fled religious persecution in England under the Anglican church and came here to practice their beliefs freely. Thanksgiving celebrates the harvest—for which the staunchly Protestant Pilgrims gave thanks to God.

The staff of The Centurion Newsletter and the Centurion Shows wishes everyone a wonderful holiday, and best of health and success in the month and year ahead.

Top image: A Pilgrim in traditional Puritan-style plain dress, with a menorah and the single “friendship candle” of Quaker tradition. Image from Zazzle.com