Holiday by Dana Oliff
How We Celebrate “Christmakuh”
As a multicultural family, our holiday season is always packed with celebration—and we wouldn’t have it any other way! We like to say we celebrate “Christmakuh”—a joyful blend of Christmas and Hanukkah that honors both our Christian and Jewish traditions. Here’s how we make the season feel festive, meaningful, and uniquely us.
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Our Holiday Décor
Instead of the classic red-and-green Christmas palette, we lean into blue, gold, and silver for a more wintery, inclusive feel. Think snowflakes, ornaments, and reindeer in cool tones. A Star of David tops our Christmas tree, and a menorah sits proudly over our stockings—both symbols getting the spotlight in our home. I always add in some fresh flowers to make our home smell wonderful too.
What’s on the Table
We go big on food—because that’s where traditions come alive. For Hanukkah, it’s latkes and brisket. For Christmas Day, we make prime rib and crab.
And of course, Christmas cookies are a must!
I have cookie cutters in the shapes of dreidels, stars, and trees—so every cookie tray is equally festive and fun.
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Our Favorite Traditions
Decorating the tree is a highlight. We collect ornaments from every vacation we take, so trimming the tree becomes a chance to relive those travel memories.
During Hanukkah, we light the menorah each night and take turns sharing something we’re grateful for. Now that our daughter, Olivia, is getting older, we’ve started reading both Hanukkah and Christmas stories—using them as a way to talk about shared values: light, miracles, giving, and history. We also love to play games as a family.
The Spirit of the Season
For us, it all comes down to balance and respect. We gently educate through celebration—inviting both sides of the family to share stories, recipes, and rituals. That spirit of inclusion and curiosity turns our Christmakuh into something truly magical.