For the first time in almost 20 years, this week the beginning of Hanukkah — the eight-day Jewish festival of lights — falls on Christmas Day, a rare quirk of the calendar that has occurred only four times since 1900.

For the first time in nearly 20 years, the first night of Hanukkah falls on Christmas day, marking a rare confluence of Jewish and Christian holidays, which occur on separate calendars.

In addition to Wednesday evening being Christmas, it is also the first night of Hanukkah and this is causing a bit of a dilemma for many of the Jewish faith who are going to have to choose between two storied traditions.

Hanukkah falling on Christmas — sometimes dubbed " Christmukkah " — occurs rarely. Christmas and the first day of Hanukkah have occurred simultaneously four times since 1900, according to Hebcal, a Hebrew calendar tracking website. The next time it will happen is in 2035.

While the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah often falls at varying points during November and December, this year's festival of lights begins a bit later - and it comes with a calendar rarity.

Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, is a Jewish holiday celebrating the defeat of the Syrian Greeks who oppressed the religious freedom of Judaism.