1. Christmas is one day, same day every year--December 25. Jews love December 25th. It's another paid day off from work. We go to movies and out for Chinese food, and Israeli dancing. Chanuka is eight days. It starts the evening of the 24th of Kislev, whenever that falls. No one is ever sure. Jews never know until a non-Jewish friend asks when Chanuka starts, forcing us to consult a calendar so we don't look like idiots. We all have the same calendar, provided free with a donation from either the World Jewish Congress, the kosher butcher, or the local Sinai Memorial Chapel (especially in Florida).
2. Christmas is a major holiday. Chanuka is a minor holiday with the same theme as most Jewish holidays: They tried to kill us, we survived, let's eat!
3. Christians get wonderful presents such as jewelry, perfume, stereos, etc. Jews get practical presents such as underwear, socks, or the collected works of the Rambam, which looks impressive on the bookshelf.
4. There is only one way to spell Christmas. No one can decide how to spell Chanuka, Chanukah, Chanukka, Channukah, Hanukah, Hannuka.
5. Christmas is a time of great pressure for husbands and boyfriends. Their partners expect special gifts. Jewish men are relieved of that burden. No one expects a diamond ring on Chanuka.
6. Christmas brings enormous electric bills. Candles are used for Chanuka. Not only are we spared enormous electric bills, but we get to feel good about not contributing to the energy crisis.
7. Christmas carols are beautiful--Silent Night, Come All Ye Faithful, etc. Chanuka songs are about dreidels made from clay or having a party and dancing the horah. Of course, we are secretly pleased that many of the beautiful carols were composed and written by our tribal brethren. And don't Barbara Streisand and Neil Diamond sing them beautifully?
8. A home preparing for Christmas smells wonderful--the sweet smell of cookies and cakes baking, happy people are gathered around in festive moods. A home preparing for Chanuka smells of oil, potatoes and onions, and, as always, is full of loud people all talking at once.
9. Christian women have fun baking Christmas cookies. Jewish women burn their eyes and cut their hands grating potatoes and onions for latkes on Chanuka. Another reminder of our suffering through the ages.
10. Parents deliver gifts to their children during Christmas. Jewish parents have no qualms about withholding a gift any of the eight nights.
11. The players in the Christmas story have it easy to pronounce names such as Mary, Joseph and Jesus. The players in the Chanuka story are Antiochus, Judah Maccabee, and Matta whatever. No one can spell it or pronounce it. On the plus side, we can tell our friends anything and they believe we are wonderfully versed in our history.
12. Many Christians believe in the virgin birth. Jews think, "Joseph, bubela, snap out of it. Your woman is pregnant, you didn't sleep with her, and now you want to blame God. Here's the number of my shrink."
13. In recent years, Christmas has become more and more commercialized. The same holds true for Chanuka, even though it is a minor holiday. It makes sense. How could we market a major holiday such as Yom Kipppur? Forget about celebrating. Think observing. Come to synagogue, starve yourself for 27 hours, become one with your dehydrated soul, beat your chest, confess your sins, a guaranteed good time for you and your family. Tickets a mere $200 per person. Better stick with Chanuka.
Happy holidays to all. Chag urim sameach. A very happy festival of lights!
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