( CNN ) -- Rebecca and Roni Kopelman have been celebrating Christmas and Hanukkah since they got together in 2006 , building the foundations of an interfaith household . Some of the Ohio couple 's holiday traditions are blended , like their Christmas tree decked out in menorah ornaments and blue and white lights ; others adhere more closely to the standard formula . During Hanukkah , her husband prepares a latke feast , they light the menorah each night and exchange small gifts . For Christmas , they hang stockings , bake cookies , go to church on Christmas Eve and open presents the next morning . `` To some people , this might seem challenging and strange , but to us , it 's a wonderful way of celebrating and respecting each other 's history and tradition without taking anything away from our own , '' Kopelman said in a CNN iReport . `` I love sharing my husband 's memories and passed-down family traditions at Hanukkah , and he happily decorates -- and eats ! -- Christmas cookies and shares memories with me as we hang ornaments on the tree . '' Some families keep strict religious and family traditions around holidays , but more families are blending religious and cultural traditions . Outside of the holidays , the Kopelmans do n't consider themselves extremely religious `` in the textbook way , '' she said . She was raised Methodist and he was raised Jewish and both went through the traditional rites of their religion . But when they went away to college , they became less fastidious in their religion pursuits , and remain so today . `` Our family history and backgrounds are important to us both , so our religions have become more like a culture or tradition we like to honor , '' she said . `` We were both raised to be good people who value love and acceptance , and this is the shared part of our religions that we tend to focus on at home . '' Families across the country have long celebrated more than one holiday in December , but only recently did those traditions gain the name `` Chrismukkah . '' Jill Erickson and her partner have embraced the label ever since it was first coined on the television show , `` The OC , '' in the mid-2000s . To Erickson , who is Episcopalian , and her Jewish partner , Chrismukkah represents their efforts to incorporate their respective traditions into the holiday season . `` We try to have a good sense of humor about the whole blending thing , '' said Erickson , 56 . Erickson shared images on CNN iReport that show mixed holiday decorations in their Falmouth , Massachusetts , home , from a menorah and advent calendar to stockings bearing the phrase `` shalom '' and plates decorated with dreidels on a red plaid table cloth . `` I grew up loving Christmas . My partner does his best to go along with all my enthusiasms . He has grown to love Swedish meatballs , which I make for Christmas . The one thing he wo n't do is help decorate the tree , but he has become very adept at putting Christmas lights outside ! '' But mixed families do n't necessarily need to embrace the label to create the foundations of their interfaith households . Cassie Pham , of Los Angeles , California , and her boyfriend of two years moved in together recently , making this the first year they merge holiday traditions . She 's a Vietnamese-American who celebrates Christmas and he 's Jewish . Like the Kopelmans , they have a Christmas tree with dreidel ornaments and a menorah , which they light each night . Pham learned to cook matzo ball soup . `` For me , Chrismukkah represents our relationship at its best , '' Pham said in a CNN iReport . `` We blend our two cultures and lives together not just during this time , but through the year and different events in our families . I like that we are both open mind and are respectful of each others ' cultures . '' This year is especially meaningful for the Kopelmans as they celebrate their first holiday season with their son , who was born December 28 , 2011 . `` With this as his first 'Chrismukkah season ' -- not a blended holiday , but rather just the season when both are celebrated at our house -- we could n't be more excited to introduce him to the fun , the food , and the spirit of each holiday . ''
Interfaith households blend religious and cultural traditions of Christmas and Hanukkah . Trees decorated with menorah and dreidel ornaments a common feature in Chrismukkah homes . ' '' Chrismukkah represents our relationship at its best , '' says Christian woman living with Jewish boyfriend .