When you are the product of an interfaith marriage there are a few perks. In December, you celebrate two separate holidays of lights. There is Hanukkah, the true celebration of light, and Christmas, because there are lights on your tree. The Pollocks called this holiday combination, Hannumas. Each of the eight nights of Hanukkah, we would all put on our yarmulkes and light the menorah. We would eat potato pancakes and play with the dreidel, while hoarding our chocolate coins. For Christmas we never actually acknowledged the existence of the Christian Savior, but Santa was very cool. Our tree had multicolored lights and all handmade ornaments. The tree would not have made Martha Stewart proud by any means, but we thought it was a work of art, every year.
Friends used to think because we celebrated two holidays so close together, we got double the gifts. Nothing could have been further from the truth. My always clever mom would spread out the gifts. We may have gotten a cool toy the first night of Hanukkah, but the next 3 would be more practical, like underwear or pencils. On Christmas morning, the presents would be piled high under the tree. They were methodically placed so that we, the kids, could count them to make sure no one got more than the other. It didn’t matter what the quality of the gift was, as long as the quantity matched. With that said, we were never a family who did without. We basically got everything our little hearts desired. Santa was good to us, despite our/my abhorrent behavior throughout the year.
My parents also received gifts from Santa Claus. Every year a box wrapped in brown paper would arrive via the US Postal Service with a return address of The North Pole. The actual postmark was Peabody, MA but we didn’t know anyone who lived in a 100 mile radius of Peabody. The package would come with a thoughtfully worded letter addressing my mom and dad, with no mention of us children. The gifts were always exotic. One year my dad received a full gorilla suit. Another year he received big fuzzy bear claw slippers and my mother received rhino slippers. They always had their theories, but I do not think they ever confirmed the true identity of their Santa.
The presents I gave out were always from the heart. I would take a walk down to the local drug store where my father had a credit account. While this privilege was abused year round, the holiday season was particularly convenient for me to purchase items for family, friends, and myself, and put it all on my dad’s bill. I probably put the owners’ kids through college with the amount I spent in that place. Actually, I guess I should say my father was their benefactor. I could pick up anything from holiday tchotchkes, to coffee mugs, to toothpaste. I would wrap it up and gift it like I had earned the cold hard cash it took to purchase.
The gifts from my siblings were always an unexpected treat. One year, my sister wrapped a piece of week old sliced American cheese and put it under the tree for me. By the time I opened it, it could have been used as a weapon. My brother was always the best at giving gifts. I fondly remember the year he gave my father a tie. As my dad opened the box, I could see the excitement in my brother’s eyes. My father ooh’d and ah’d at the tie, and said, “You know, I really like this tie. I think I have one very similar upstairs in my closet.” Turns out, it was the tie from his closet.
Now that I have children of my own, who are also products of an interfaith marriage, we celebrate Hannumas in our home. Others try to call it different mash-ups. Chrismakuh, Chrismanukah, Hannukamas. None of them hold the sentimental value that Hannumas does. I admit, spreading out gifts over a nine day period (8 for Hanukkah/1 for X-mas) is a tricky task. Even trickier, is showing our children the importance of being grateful for the things we already have, and understanding there are those who don’t even have the opportunity to celebrate one holiday, let alone two. I am grateful for all I have been blessed with. My family and friends are happy and healthy. I have a solid and fulfilling career. And if an ipad is in the cards for me, so be it.
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