So inspired by the annoyance I feel at the concept of ‘Hanukah Bush’ I thought I’d ask.
I certainly don’t remember them from my childhood (early to mid 1970s) and seem to recall first hearing about them when my much younger sister mentioned them around 1990 or so.
Is there any real history on these damn things or are they some new thing?
They are some new thing thought up by Jews who didn’t feel comfortable being “different” around Christmas time.
They do not, and never have, had any place in Jewish tradition.
And that’s what annoys me. Grr.
Is there any real history for who first thought this was a good idea? I can’t believe it just spontaneously popped up.
Well, if you set fire to it . . .
I believe it started out as a more or less tongue in cheek comment by Jewish parents who were pressured by their kids to get a Christmas tree. When asked by friends, “Moshe! a Christmas tree?” They’d answer, “Noooo, a Hannukah Bush!”
Are they different in name only?
Well the Christmas tree was copied from pagan traditions
“Dad, those pagans are having so much fun with their tree, can we have one?”
“Ok, ok just stop nagging”
“How about a wicker man, go on dad, please…”
My Mom’s Cousin’s Husband was Jewish and his wife wasn’t. He’d go out a few days before Christmas and bring in a Hannukah Bush. The kids were not raised Jewish.
This was in NYC in the early 1050’s
That’s 1950’s! I’m not that old!
Do these bushes really exist or is it just a joke?
Yes, they exist, but it’s also just a joke. “Hannukah bush” is just a humorous name for Christmas trees in Jewish households that decide to have a Christmas tree. It differs not from your regular Christmas tree, except maybe no Baby Jesus ornaments.
Wow, I live in a very heavily Jewish area but I’ve never known anyone who actually had a Hannukah bush…
That’s because most self-respecting Jews will not have a Hannukah bush.
Zev Steinhardt
If you live in a heavily Jewish neighborhood, yu probably wouldn’t. The reverse would be more likely to be true (that is, if you lived in a neighborhood with few Jews, you would be more likely to see a “Channukah bush”). Kids in heavily Jewish neighborhoods feel less pressure to conform (also, from my observation, the C.B. phenomenon is kid-driven).
The entire phrase gags me… if you want a Christmas Tree, buy one, but don’t pretend it has anything to do with Channukah.
I can appreciate your distaste, but weren’t christmas trees originally a pagan tradition associated with the winter festival?
Hanukah Bush ??
He’s the one that George, Barbara, Dubya and Jeb never talk about !!! LOL
I searched one of my newspaper databases from 1900-1980, and the term Hanukkah Bush turned up in three varied newspaper articles from 1975-1977. It didn’t appear before.
If I had bothered to use one that searched the NYTimes, etc., no doubt I could have found earlier.
“Why, Bobbi Jo Goldstein, is that a Menorah in your window?”
“Of course not, silly, it’s a Christmas candelabra.”
Back in the late 60’s, my parents had a Jewish friend – an older woman – who each year put up her Hannukkah bush in her little living room. She thought they were too pretty not to have one.
That was the first time I ever heard the term (however, since I was a toddler, I couldn’t very well have heard it much earlier).
I had never heard of it. Thanks for the info.
While I’m here; What do I say to Jewish people at Hannukah [is that the correct spelling?].
Do I say ‘Happy Hannukah’ - or is something else more appropriate?
Thank you.