Christmas and Hanukkah are two of the world’s most celebrated holidays, but surprisingly they are usually not celebrated simultaneously. While it is rare to find them overlapping, it does actually happen from time to time. So let’s explore how often these two holidays overlap.
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The Science of Christmas and Hanukkah Overlaps
Christmas and Hanukkah are determined by the Gregorian and Lunar calendars, respectively. As such, each year their dates can shift up to as much as a week or more, with the possibility of both holidays taking place at the same time. However, due to the nature of these two calendars and their fixed dates, it is highly unlikely that the two holidays will overlap frequently.
Calculating the Overlap
To calculate when these two holidays overlap, we must consider both calendars. The Gregorian calendar establishes Christmas on December 25th each year, while the Lunar calendar sets the date of Hanukkah 8 days after the new moon of the Hebrew month of Kislev.
This means that if the new moon of Kislev occurs before December 16th, both holidays could fall within the same 8-day window. This occurrence is known as a “double holiday”. Furthermore, even if the new moon of Kislev occurs after December 16th, both holidays still could overlap if the timing of the new moon is particularly close to December 25th.
Occurrence of Double Holiday
Given the above, double holiday will only occur every few years. Specifically, double holiday is only possible in years which the new moon of Kislev occurs before December 16th and on average that will happen about once every 5-7 years or so.
The two most recent occurrences of this double holiday happened in 2014 and 2006. The next possible double holiday would be in 2021/early 2022, with exact date dependent on when the new moon of the month of Kislev falls that year.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while double holiday can be an exciting occurrence, it is rare to find Christmas and Hanukkah overlapping. However, with careful planning and tracking of the dates Gregorian and Hebrew calendars, you can enjoy both holidays together every few years!
Despite its rarity, celebrating Christmas and Hanukkah together is a rewarding experience that is possible to achieve with some planning and understanding of the two calendars. It is a fun way to enjoy and celebrate both holidays with friends and family.
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Last update 2023-11-27. Price and product availability may change.