When Susanne Skinner wrote her Monday post about HallowThanksMas, she probably didn’t realize what I just discovered: that on Nov. 28, 2013, “for the first and only time in any of our lifetimes, the first day of Hanukkah falls on the same day as Thanksgiving.” That makes it Thanksgivukkah Day.
Wow! That’s a Harmonic Convergence of the holidays, a confewgelty of events, a Grand Alignment of gatherings, a critical mass of sentimental expression, and a coronal mass ejection of FOOD. Both Chaukkah and Thanksgiving are holidays that focus around the kitchen and the dining table. Both are characterized by family gatherings, frantic cooks, crowded kitchens, wonderful aromas, and groaning boards. The resulting loosened belt buckles and food comas are universally American and ecumenical.
It’s gaining momentum. #Thanksgivukkah has it’s own Twitter handle and Facebook page. Should you decide to jump into Thanksgivukkah planning, you can order posters and tee shirts. It even has a logo and a tagline.
The Wall Street Journal gives some historical background in today’s article, “When Holidays Collide, You Get the ‘Menurkey‘” by Charles Passy, and adds that the last time it happened was in 1888. Here in Boston, Combined Jewish Philanthropies have created a Thanksgivukkah website to offer craft and food ideas.
But how to celebrate on the day itself? How do you bring together the food of a secular holiday celebrating the survival of the Pilgrims in a raw new world with a religious holiday marking a mystical flame that outlasts its fuel supply?
Not to worry. The folks at BuzzFeed have solved that problem—and with plenty of time for you to plan your menu, shop for the ingredients, and make sure that you have all the right pots, pans and casseroles on hand. Remember, all the stores will be closed on Thanksgivukkah. The BuzzFeed people have put a lot of time, effort and creativity into devising a dual holiday celebration that palates of all ancestries might enjoy.
In “How To Celebrate Thanksgivukkah, The Best Holiday Of All Time,” BuzzFeed provides all Americans with the menu needed to ecumenicize the Chanukkah table or add a touch of Jewish Mother to the Thanksgiving holiday. For Unitarians like us, this is an interesting opportunity to kill one bird with two events. (Photos courtesy of BuzzFeed.)
THE MENU
TO START
- Potato Latkes with Cranberry Applesauce
THE MEAL
- Manischewitz-Brined Roast Turkey with Gravy
- Sweet Potato Bourbon Noodle Kugel
- Challah Apple Stuffing
- Horseradish Chive Mashed Potatoes
- Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Pastrami and Pickled Red Onion
FOR DESSERT
- Pecan Pie Rugelach
- Rye Pumpkin Pye
While I might pass on the Maneschewitz-brined roast turkey, the cranberry applesauce sounds pretty good. And many of my Southern friends might enjoy the Sweet Potato Bourbon Noodle Kugel.
But how can it be that Martha Stewart hasn’t picked up on this? Think of what she could do with table linens, dishes, and candlesticks—not to mention leftover Bourbon and the brined turkey carcass.
It’s an opportunity, Martha, and it’s your only chance. Think about it.
BuzzFeed tells us that this holiday convergence won’t happen again for 70,000 years. We’ll all be under water by then so this is our only opportunity to celebrate Thanksgivukkah with chutzpah. Let’s jump on it, everyone. L’chaim y’all!