This year when Hanukkah and Thanksgiving overlap, there's not much of a doctrinal problem blending the holidays. After all, Thanksgiving is not a religious rite, but a commemoration of American history focused on gratitude, which all faiths express in one way or another. But most years, Hanukkah falls near Christmas, so that's why the Menorah Tree exists (lights and ornaments not included).
On the one hand, this seems handy for blended families to decorate for both holidays with one main symbol. On the other hand, at what point does blending two religious celebrations begin to dilute the meaning of both of them? HeeB magazine says:
I get that little kids are confused by conflicting holidays, and this might be a nice way to bring a little harmony in the home, but…really?How about treating different holidays as, well, different holidays? Kids enjoy double the presents from the grandparents without any ethno-religious confusion, and you enjoy not having to explain why you’ve got this in your living room. Everyone wins!
It's hard to argue with the idea of more holidays. -via mental_floss