Why One-Third of Jewish Families Have Christmas Trees

Walk into certain Jewish homes in December and you might spot something unexpected: a Christmas tree twinkling in the corner. And it's far more common than you'd think.

According to a 2013 Pew Research Center survey, 32% of American Jews reported having a Christmas tree in their home. That number jumps dramatically in interfaith households—those where one partner is Jewish and the other isn't—where 71% display a tree. Recent UK studies put the figure at 23-28% of Jewish households having trees while still lighting Hanukkah candles.

The "December Dilemma"

For interfaith families, the winter holiday season presents what's affectionately (or not-so-affectionately) called the "December dilemma." When you're blending Jewish and Christian traditions under one roof, do you choose one holiday? Celebrate both? Create some hybrid approach?

Many families have landed on "both." The portmanteau "Chrismukkah" has entered the cultural lexicon to describe households that light the menorah and trim the tree. Some counselors recommend keeping observances separate—celebrating Hanukkah at home, then visiting Christian relatives for Christmas—while others embrace the mashup.

The "Hanukkah Bush" Phenomenon

Some Jewish families have tried to split the difference with what's jokingly called a "Hanukkah bush"—essentially a Christmas tree decorated with Jewish-themed ornaments, Stars of David, and dreidels instead of angels and Santas.

The concept isn't new. Theodor Herzl, founder of the Zionist movement, reportedly had a tree in his home in the 1890s and suggested calling it a "Hanukkah tree" for his children. The practice became relatively common among American Jews in the 1950s, though it declined by the 1990s as Jewish identity movements strengthened.

Not All Jews Are the Same

The likelihood of finding a Christmas tree varies wildly by denomination and household composition:

• Orthodox Jews: Only 1-4% have Christmas trees
• Jews by religion (practicing): 27% have trees
• Cultural Jews (non-religious): 51% have trees
• Interfaith marriages: 71% have trees

In households where all members are Jewish, 82% have never displayed a Christmas tree, according to earlier research.

Why the Tree?

For interfaith families, the Christmas tree often represents compromise and respect for both partners' traditions. For secular Jews, it may be seen as a cultural rather than religious symbol—more about twinkling lights and family gatherings than Christian theology.

Others simply like the festive atmosphere. As one interviewee told researchers: "It's pretty. The kids love it. And it doesn't make me less Jewish."

The debate continues, but one thing is clear: the December landscape in Jewish homes is far more varied than many assume. Whether it's a towering Douglas fir, a modest "Hanukkah bush," or no tree at all, modern Jewish families are navigating the holidays in increasingly diverse ways.