Hanukkah (or Chanukah) is also known as the "Festival of Lights" or
the "Festival of Rededication". It lasts for 8 days and is
celebrated from the 25th day of the Jewish month Kislev to the
second or third day of Tevet, with the exact dates varying between
November to early December.
For some Jewish families, an important part of the tradition includes
giving gifts to children on each of the eight days, with each gift
reflecting something related to the values and understandings in
Judaism, as well as a few being for the sake of children's happiness.
If you're not sure what to give on some of the days, or even for all
of the days, this article provides some suggestions to help you.
_Note: If you're buying gifts for Jewish children, check with the
family first. Not all Jewish families make a big deal out of the
gift-giving aspect of Hanukkah; alternatively, the preference for how
gifts are given can vary considerably. The following article is a
basic guide._
!! Steps !!
Plan a budget in advance. While one child is affordable, many
children can soon blow the budget with 8 days of gifts! Sort out how
many of the days you think you'll give gifts for, as well as the
types of gifts you can afford, and what your budget can handle.
* Keep in mind that observing the spirit of the occasion is the most
important aspect.
* If giving gifts to siblings, keep in mind that each gift will need
to be similar in price and value for each child.
Allow for flexibility. On each of the eight days, the tradition is
for a gift of a particular sort is given to each child. However,
it is important to recognize that the gift-giving part of Hanukkah
does not need to be followed strictly or even observed on each day
– it depends on your budget, your enthusiasm, and, of course,
your interpretation of this part of celebrating Hanukkah. Approach
Hanukkah gift giving in the the way that your family believes is
the most appropriate.
* For some parents, giving very modest gifts of the same kind
several times over is not unusual (for example, giving small
amounts of coins or chocolate coins several times during the
week), while other parents favor one single large gift at the end,
with extremely modest gifts in between (such as Hanukkah
decorations), or daily donations to charity in the child's name.
Give gifts according to the standard gift suggestion for each day.
While taking into account the flexibility discussed in the
previous step, the "standard" gift routine is generally as
follows:
* Maybe something to make music with? *Day 1*: Choose a
gift that is modest and fairly priced. For example, a DVD of a
movie, a CD of a favorite rock band, etc. Choose something small
that you know the child would like to have.
* Choose a charity they care about *Day 2*: Think charity.
This is the day for kids to think about giving to others,
highlighting the spiritual values of Hanukkah. Ask the kids what
their favorite charity is, then give a donation to that charity
under their name. Do they sigh at the sight of a stray dog or cat?
If yes, give money to a local pet shelter. Do they wince when they
see a homeless person or family go to a homeless shelter? If yes,
give money to Goodwill Rescue Mission. If they wish they could
help every sick person, give money to a hospital nearby. Make sure
that they see the receipt in their name and be sure to have a
shared discussion about the importance of charity.
* Science makes a great gift on this day *Day 3*:
Education is the focus. Give the kids a gift that is both
educational and fun. There are plenty of excellent ideas including
books, a science kit, a rock tumbler, crystal growing kits,
electronics projects, etc.
* Chocolate coins are much loved *Day 4*: For the next
night, give them "gelt", a Yiddish word for money. If they are
young, give them chocolate coins. If they are older, give cash
(ranging from $5 to $20), or coins of any amount. You could also
simply deposit an amount direct into their savings account.
* Dreidel games can be purchased fully made up *Day 5*:
Give them a gift related to Judaism. For teens and tweens, such
items as religious books, a symbolic necklace, a snow globe, or a
bookmark would work well. For younger kids, good choices include
picture books, jewelery, games, etc., with a religious theme.
Dreidels work well for kids of all ages.
* The gift of growing *Day 6*: Be kind to the Earth this
Hanukkah and give them an eco-friendly gift, such as a durable
water bottle, a small compost bin, a recycled purse, or a plant to
grow. Wrap it in last week's newspaper and present it to the kids.
* Going out together is always appreciated *Day 7*: Give
the kids an outing with the family. Either plan to go and do
something together on this day, or purchase tickets for an
upcoming event that you'll all attend together. Another
alternative is making an IOU for something you know the whole
family really wants to do, or a small family vacation to be taken
later.
* A big responsibility but a good one *Day 8*: This is the
day for the most expensive and fun gift for your child. A new
bike, a play set, a pool, a play piano are good for non-living
gifts. Or, if you're up to getting a pet for your child, get a
family pet.
Talk about Hanukkah with your family. As with any religious
holiday where gifts are involved, it is important to spend a
little time relating the gift giving to the occasion being
celebrated. Make it an enjoyable time of learning, with the whole
family involved in talking about Hanukkah and celebrating it
together.
* Read How to celebrate Hanukkah for details on celebrating Hanukkah
as a whole.
* If you're a teacher, read How to teach about Chanukkah in the
classroom for more ideas.
!! Video !!
!! Tips !!
* Another take on the gifts is to spend some of the days making
Hanukkah crafts instead of receiving gifts. This provides the gift
of togetherness, of learning to use one's hands for creating
things, and the final handmade result is a gift in its own right.
* If children are old enough to be able to cook with oil (late
tweens, early teens on), spend some time giving them the gift of
learning to cook together, and make some of the traditional
Hanukkah foods such as latkes, jelly donuts, and fried torzelli.
Supervise all novice cooks, especially around hot oil; explain in
detail the consequences of hot oil splashes.
* Give kids the gift of your time. If things have been busy lately,
take this opportunity to spend some more time with your kids and
to enjoy being together.
* Consider purchasing handmade toys and items that support charities
or local craftspeople, as part of the tradition of helping others.
!! Things You'll Need !!
* A fair-priced gift for Day 1
* Money to give to your child's favorite charity for Day 2
* A educational gift for Day 3
* Money/gelt/chocolate coins for Day 4
* A Jewish-related gift for Day 5
* An eco-friendly gift for Day 6
* A gift card or a IOU to go out somewhere for day 7
* A large gift (such as a bike, iPod, etc.) or a pet for Day 8
!! Related WikiHows !!
* How to Celebrate Hanukkah
* How to Play Dreidel
* How to Explain That Hanukkah is Not the Jewish Christmas
* How to Make Dreidels
* How to Make Potato Latkes
!! Article Tools !!
* Read on wikiHow
*
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