It's almost "Chrismukkah"

Christmas Day and the first night of Hanukkah fall on the same date this year for the first time in nearly 20 years.

• The holiday alignment won't happen again until 2035.

Flashback: Hanukkah last started on the evening of Christmas Day in 2005 — the only other time the two have aligned in the last 50 years.

• The festival of lights last started on Christmas Eve in 1978 and 2016.

How it works: The first day of Hanukkah comes on the 25th of Kislev on the Hebrew calendar, which is based on lunar cycles with the occasional "leap month."

• Jewish calendar days begin at sundown, meaning 25 Kislev starts this year on the evening of Dec. 25, when the first candle is lit.
• Hanukkah can start in late November through late December on the more commonly used Gregorian calendar.

By the numbers: The earliest first nights of Hanukkah on the Gregorian calendar over the last 50 years came in 1994 and 2013, when it fell on Nov. 27.

• The latest came in 1986, on Dec. 26.
• The most common first night over the last 50 years? Dec. 8 (1974, 1993, 2012).

💬 Our thought bubble: This year's "Chrismukkah" is both a simple celestial coincidence and a blessing for people who take part in both holidays, creating a rare opportunity to truly blend and share end-of-year celebrations and traditions with our different family groups and loved ones.

What's next: Kwanzaa begins Dec. 26 and runs through Jan. 1.

• The holiday, which means "first fruits" in Swahili, was founded in 1966 to celebrate African American and Pan-African history, values and community.