All over the world, during the winter season the Christmas and Hanukkah holidays are celebrated - with gingerbread or latkes, with avowals of religion, contemplative spirit or political messages.

Christmas and Hanukkah have quite a lot in common: Candles are lit at both festivals to brighten up the dark season; both festivals fall on the 25th day of a month - Christmas on 25 December and Hanukkah on 25 Kislew, the ninth month of the Jewish calendar; and both are still traditional, family celebrations which have become festivals of consumerism.

"Chrismukkah" is an ironic term referring to the mingling of the traditions of Christmas and Hanukkah. Taking the example of Chrismukkah, we demonstrate how social, political, and economic changes have led to new customs and how commercialization and secularization in the modern world have created similarities between the two festivals, albeit superficial ones.