WASHINGTON 鈥� For most of her life, Simone Bloom Nathan had 鈥淐hristmas envy.鈥�
鈥淚 saw all these beautiful trees decorated with little trains running around them and sparkles, and I wanted one. I really, really wanted one,鈥� said Nathan, who was raised Jewish and grew up in South Africa before moving to the United States.
鈥淚 felt left out and so different,鈥� she said.
But this year, Nathan will no longer feel green over an evergreen. Since moving from Boston to Reston, Virginia, to be closer to her grandchildren, who celebrate both Christmas and Hanukkah, she plans to join them in decking the halls and trimming the tree 鈥� and she is not the only one.
According to a from Pew Research Center, less than half of the 90 percent of Americans who celebrate Christmas do so as primarily a religious holiday. And with , it鈥檚 not uncommon for Jewish families to partake in Christmas traditions.
Pew found that around of Jewish Americans with a non-Jewish spouse had a Christmas tree in 2013; 30 percent of practicing Jewish Americans had a tree that same year.
In the early 2000s, the TV drama “The O.C.” came up with a name to best describe the merging of the two holidays. The character Seth Cohen dubbed it “Christmakuh.”
鈥淭here are similarities between [Hanukkah and Christmas]; there are things that they share,鈥� Nathan said.
鈥淭hey share lights and food and family 鈥� most important, being with people that you love,” she said.
When Nathan鈥檚 first granddaughter was born, she set out to find her a children鈥檚 book about celebrating both holidays. When she couldn鈥檛 track one down, she decided to write her own 鈥� a two-year project that resulted in 鈥�.鈥�
鈥淚 wanted to validate children who celebrate two holidays at this time of year. But more important, I wanted to say there鈥檚 no right way or one way to do anything,鈥� Nathan said.
鈥淭here鈥檚 no right way to celebrate Christmas or to celebrate Hanukkah 鈥� there are traditions that people follow and 鈥� I wanted to emphasize that every family has its own tradition,鈥� she said.
Do your holiday plans include lighting a menorah and a Christmas tree? Nathan has some tips for interfaith couples who want to pass their holiday traditions on to their children, while simultaneously celebrating a spouse鈥檚 religion and culture.
Honor both faiths
Nathan said it鈥檚 important for interfaith families to 鈥渕ake a conscious decision to create and celebrate traditions that honor both faiths.鈥� Host a holiday meal that includes dishes from both backgrounds, or plan an activity that incorporates the spirit of each holiday.
Show interest in your spouse鈥檚 faith
If you鈥檝e made the decision to raise your children in two faiths, Nathan said it鈥檚 essential for each partner to take an interest in the other鈥檚 culture and customs.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 really important for the spouse who has not celebrated that culture and religion to learn about it and to show an interest so that the children see that both of their parents are interested in both religions,鈥� she said.
Involve the grandparents
Nathan鈥檚 third tip is to invite grandparents to share their customs with the grandchildren, since 鈥渢he grandparents really are the people who are passing down the traditions.鈥�
Over the years, Nathan has been teaching her daughter how to make latkes. They still make the fried potato pancakes together, but now that her daughter feels more comfortable with the process, she has started to take the lead 鈥� and her children have started to notice.
鈥淭here are some things that are staples in a family, traditions in a family, that you have to make a very conscious effort to continue,鈥� Nathan said. 鈥淎nd I also think it鈥檚 important to make your own new traditions, however small they are, because that鈥檚 what children remember.鈥�
For those living in the D.C. area, Nathan recommends checking out聽. The organization serves as a community and a resource for Jewish and Christian partners.聽
