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Hanukkah runs from December 14–22 this year. While not as big a spending holiday as Christmas, Jewish families traditionally give small gifts throughout the eight days. Non-Jewish people can also give terrific gifts for Hanukkah to their Jewish relatives and friends to show respect for their holiday and traditions.
Families might start Hanukkah morning with latkes, sufganiyot (jelly-filled doughnuts) or frosted mini donuts. Adults can drink coffee from mugs with cute slogans like "Oy To The World" or Jewish symbols printed on them. Some chefs add olive oil to their dishes to give it more flavor. Main course meals include brisket, roast chicken and matzo ball soup. Many people serve challah or braided bread with dinner. You'll want a Kiddush cup to use for the blessing before the meals. Consider using a Star of David-shaped serving tray to carry the food.
Kosher bon bons, shortbread cookies, bags of nuts, and a cheese spread are popular snacks and desserts. Children will enjoy dreidel-shaped candies and hot cocoa. Gelts, or chocolate coins, remain a classic Hanukkah snack, including The Dreidel Company's gelt set that comes with a dreidel container.
The most famous symbol of Hanukkah is the menorah and families can decide on whether to use a classic version with dripless wax candles or a modern version with LED light candles. You can even place a LED rope lights Menorah display outdoors to coordinate with the neighbors' Christmas lights or use a more traditional mezuzah display attached to your doorpost.
Other indoor decorations include Hanukkah-themed pillows and blanket throws on the living roof sofa or chairs. A framed poster or paperweight with an inspirational Jewish prayer or saying decorates the den. Parents can help their children make a Hanukkah gingerbread house. You might decorate the dinner table with a Happy Hanukkah runner and matching napkins.
Hanukkah gives families and friends a chance to spend quality time together and enjoy activities together. People can watch movies and documentaries about their Jewish faith. Families can either sing Hanukkah-related songs or play the music through Bluetooth speakers. Everybody can work together to solve a jigsaw puzzle. Consider buying digital or even instant cameras for family photos and then putting the photos in a scrapbook to give to the older generations. Parents can buy their children an activity kit, such as Days United's Hanukkah In A Box, which features a small plaster menorah, dreidel, and a guidebook on how to celebrate the holiday.
If you would like more information on terrific gifts for Hanukkah, including where to buy them, please contact one of our representatives.