🕎 It’s the year 2000, and Christmas and Hanukkah have crossed paths at my doorstep in the form of Santa Claus and his part-Jewish friend… a weird turtle man.  

In honor of Christmas Day and the first night of Hanukkah sharing a day on the calendar this year, we’re revisiting some old Friends, an escaped tarantula, a restaurant we may never be allowed in or out of again, and an unforgettable interfaith holiday mascot fit for a new millennium.  

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Becca Petunia (ToughPigs.com, Bear in the Big Blue Podcast, Bluesky)  

April Ryley (Bluesky)  

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1. How often does the first night of Hanukkah fall on Christmas? (Vox, 2016)  

2. What the ‘Friends’ Holiday Armadillo Episode Gets Right About Interfaith Families (Hey Alma, 2021)  

3. The “Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas” drum roll outtake reel.  

4. A transcript including deleted scenes reveals Ben wants Santa to bring him an ant farm.  

5. Formication (with an M, y’all), the false sense of feeling like bugs are crawling on you.  

6. Halloween Adventure is real and still open.  

7. Hoppy the Marvel Bunny.  

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AT&T True Savings with David Schwimmer (circa 1996)  

The Studio Demands It!  

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“Friends” and “The One with the Holiday Armadillo” © 2000 Warner Bros. Television.  

Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost.  
Full show notes and social links at adventcalendar.house.