Happy Hanukkah!

Merry Christmas!

Oh! Happy New Year!

In essence, happy holidays to all who celebrate this time of year.

Some are put off by the term, “happy holidays,” as it can be construed to mean the negation of a singular holiday/tradition — or worse, can be received as one degrading and/or demeaning the sacred value of these times held by much of the American population.

I would like to offer an alternative understanding of why many use the term, “happy holidays,” and to fiercely assert that I — and my guess is most others who practice multiple traditions to mark the end of the year/start of a new year — are not AT ALL ever insulted when wished a “merry” or “happy” anything, at any time time in our lives.

Instead, what a gift it is to be able to come together as human beings, as Americans, at one time, EVERY year, and offer good wishes to one another.

Seeing as Hannukah’s start this year nicely coincides with the celebration of Christmas (the 25th/26th) it’s apropos to shine a light on how much of what is celebrated in both of those ancient traditions is shared.

I had the at the time “unique” (therefore “weird”) home situation of growing up in two incomprehensibly different home environments. I was one of the early latch-key kids of divorced parents, which, in itself, was an oddity at the time.

Additionally, my mom was Catholic, living in Flint, and my dad was Jewish, living in Ann Arbor.

I didn’t have one single person I knew who had the same family arrangement.

When my mom and dad got married in 1973, they had inscribed on the front of their wedding invitations a Star of David with a cross in the middle — which, at that time, was simply unheard of (and, I’d hazard to guess, is still quite limited in use).

How could two people agree to unite forever with two different religions?

Not surprisingly, once I was born a year later, my mom was most asked, “How will you raise Monika in both traditions? How will she know what to believe?,” to which she simply responded, “I don’t know, but I most hope she will be open to believing in believing.”

And to that end, her hope has been realized.

What I love most about this time of the year is to see so many people allow themselves to believe in miracles, magic, love, and tradition. From secretly spying the most curmudgeonly old man — who only ever grumbles in reply when someone tells him hello — secretly stringing lights on Main Street after dark, when he thinks no one is watching, to the most angst-filled, unimpressed-by-anything teenager swiftly strewing presents under a Salvation Army tree that she bought with her hard-earned babysitting money for children who otherwise would not have a reason this year to celebrate.

Celebrate.

That is what we all strive to do at this time of the year.

On Dec. 25, Christian religions celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the Savior, truly a monumental and sacred cornerstone of the faith.

Hanukkah is the Jewish eight-day, wintertime “festival of lights” and commemorates the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem (circa 164 BCE) and is a beloved and joyous holiday. The number of days has been ascribed to be eight because of the miraculous small amount of oil that burned for eight days. (Oh, and by the way, insiders note: The question I get most asked — still, as an adult — when asked about Hanukkah is whether we really get EIGHT gifts; sure, if you count shoelaces and pencils as two separate gifts; it’s kinda like Christmas; you get one or two gifts and then you get necessities and oddities; see, another similarity).

This time of the year is steeped in tradition and belief, most certainly. However, in practice, in the 21st century, if one were to ask 100 Americans what “the holidays” mean to him/her, it would be surprising to find many answers that did not include the word “family.”

THAT is what is held in common: What we all celebrate (if we are lucky enough to be able to do so) is to be part of something larger than ourselves, to love and to be loved, to be dedicated to one another.

Therefore, as I do love how much the history of words can reveal meaning, one more lesson: The word “Chanukah” (Hanukkah in Hebrew) means “dedication.” To what, we fill in the blank.

As I write this from my cousin’s beautiful home in Bonita Springs, Florida, with whom I am fortunate for the first time to share this Christmas and Hanukkah, I dedicate myself to trying to make all who believe feel seen and appreciated.

Monika Ehrlich is a new resident to Alpena, but with extensive family ties to the area. She is currently working for Alpena Community College and is an avid reader, writer and photographer.