(Cleveland Jewish News)
By Rabbi Howard Kutner
This year, in a most unusual occurrence, the first day of Chanukah coincides with Thanksgiving. This has not happened since 1861, or at least not since Thanksgiving was declared a federal holiday by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863, according to The Associated Press.
Eric says
Per Wikipedia, until c. 1942, Thanksgiving was observed on the final Thursday of November.
According to Kaluach, the first day of Chanuka in 1888 was Thursday, November 29, 1888.
That means this is *not* the first time the two have coincided.
ajf says
As previous comment did occur in 1888 and 2 other times just not first day
http://m.chabad.org/holidays/chanukah/article_cdo/aid/2343364/jewish/Chanukah-and-Thanksgiving-A-Brief-History.htm