What do you give Jewish friends for Hanukkah? What about your Jewish colleagues or employees? You want your gift to be memorable, but you want it to be memorable for the right reasons! Learn everything you need to know about Hanukkah gifting and traditions.
What are the best Hanukkah gifts?
Just like any gift, you want your Hanukkah gift to delight the recipient. This doesn't mean you have to give a traditional Hanukkah gift - you can give any delicious cake or other treat this time of year. That said, there are a few guidelines that will make sure your gift wows them:
  1. Hanukkah colors are blue and white, not red and green. Avoid Christmas themed wrapping paper and cards, and go with something generic. You can also buy special Hanukkah themed wrapping paper.



  2. Sign your card! While Hanukkah is not "Jewish Christmas", you should still include a personalized note with our dessert gifts - "Happy Hanukkah!" or "May the Festival of Lights bring a glow to your year!" are nice choices. "Seasons Greetings" is always appropriate, too.



  3. Even if you know the recipient doesn't keep kosher, sending something like a ham could be taken the wrong way. Many classic holiday gift baskets come with little samplers of sausage, bacon or seafood. Stay away from these types of gifts, especially when sending Hanukkah business gifts. A kosher Jewish dessert is a safe bet and something everyone can enjoy.



  4. Make sure your gift arrives on time! It's an eight day holiday, so this shouldn't be too difficult - just be sure to check the dates as they change every year. (Check this year's dates here)
Quick Shopping Guide:
When is Hanukkah this year?
Unlike Christmas, which always falls on December 25th, Hanukkah is celebrated according to the lunar cycle. That means it is celebrated on different days every year. This year, Hanukkah's first night falls on Christmas Eve. There are eight nights of Hanukkah, so it ends the night of January 1st.
If you're looking for information on how to celebrate Hanukkah, Chabad.org has some great resources! How to decorate for Hanukah, how to play dreidel, how to light a menorah and a lot more here.
Rugelach (rug-a-lah) made from our family held recipe.
What are traditional Hanukkah desserts?
Jelly donuts, latkes (cheese or potato pancakes) and rugelach top the list. Rugelach are similar to mini-croissants. We make our Rugelach from an old family-held recipe, featuring cream cheese dough rolled with chocolate, raspberry and apricot fillings plus chopped walnuts, and finally sprinkled with sugar. They're pretty on the outside, delicious on the inside, and perfect traditional Hanukkah gifts for family gatherings.
Our Hanukkah demitasse petits fours are a lovely business gift that can be shared and enjoyed by many employees.
Why do American Jews eat Chinese food on Christmas?
If you guessed it's because Chinese restaurants are the only ones open on Christmas Day, you're only half right. Both Chinese Americans and Jewish Americans lived side by side in New York after immigrating, and Chinese food doesn't mix meat with milk, something those who keep kosher avoid. (Source)
One of our most unique Hanukkah gifts is our Hanukkah-themed fortune cookies. These Hanukkah take-out pails are tied with blue and white ribbon, with a menorah decoration on the side of each box.
Why is Hanukkah spelled different ways?
Because there are letters in the Hebrew language that don't exist in English. Hanukkah starts with the Hebrew letter "het", which is like a strong "h" that comes from the back of the throat. Sometimes people write it as "ch", but that's supposed to be said like the German "ch" which is close to "het", not the English "ch" like in "choo choo train". So spelling it "Chanukkah" isn't wrong, but it makes less sense to English speakers.
Hanukkah in Pop Culture
Adam Sandler, who was raised Jewish, knew that the Christmas holidays could make Jewish kids feel left out of all the festivities. He wrote the Hanukkah Song listing Jewish celebrities, and later starred and co-wrote the holiday movie Eight Crazy Nights. Watch Here!
In 1996, Nickelodeon created a special episode of their popular show for children, Rugrats, that actually explains the history behind the holiday.
The Canadian pop music group Bearnaked Ladies included three songs about Hanukkah on their holiday music album, including the original Hanukkah Blessings written by lead singer Adam Page, who is Jewish.