The gift-giving traditions of Hannukah are relatively new and, as such, many people are not entirely sure of how they should approach gift-giving during this particular holiday.

When you are choosing gifts for Hannukah the most important thing you can do is remember what this holiday is all about.

By doing that you can ensure that the things you are purchasing are going to be that much more meaningful to the people you are gifting them to.

What is Hannukah?

Hannukah, which is often referred to as the festival of light, is a celebration that lasts eight days.

The celebration acts as a commemoration of the rededication of the Second Temple of Jerusalem. One of the most characteristic things about this particular holiday is that for every day that passes a candle is lit.

This is a time of great religious observance, and many Jewish people consider it one of the most important holidays to participate in.

 

How to choose the right gifts during Hannukah?

Try to honor the religious celebration

The easiest way of finding the right type of gift for Hannukah is by remembering what this particular holiday is all about. As this is a celebration of light, many people will choose to gift candles, candle holders, or even menorahs to others.

These gifts are directly linked with the traditions observed during this holiday and that is part of the reason why they are so popular and so well regarded.

Choose something thoughtful

Hannukah as a holiday is not focused on gift-giving. The tradition of gift-giving is relatively modern, which is why you will want to maintain a certain level of control when you are buying Hannukah presents.

As much as possible try not to go overboard and focus on gifts that others would love to receive. Books, gifts, and board games can all make excellent Hannukah gifts that the gift recipient is sure to enjoy.

Jewelry is also a relatively common gift during Hannukah. If you have any friends that are lovers of jewelry this is a great opportunity to honor that love.

Gift Food

Food is a big part of the celebration. Bringing food gifts to others can be a great way of honoring the Jewish tradition.

Some of the most popular dishes around Hannukah include Latkes, Gelt, and round jelly donuts, known as Sufganiyot. All of these dishes are delicious and because they can be quite time-consuming, they can act as excellent gift options for your friends during this time of celebration.

One thing to ensure is that all the food you gift to others is Kosher. This can be very important as it is a time of great religious observance.

Keep up with Traditions

Certain things are considered to be more traditional Hannukah gifts, these include Menorahs, dreidels, candles, gelts, and candle holders.

All of these things are commonly associated with this particular celebration and as such, they can make excellent Hannukah gifts for all of those around you.

Connection to cultural roots

Another great way of choosing a Hannukah gift is by choosing something that will connect your friends and family to their cultural roots.

For example, if your friend loves to cook then, you could gift them a cookbook filled with Jewish recipes. If they love self-care then, you can choose scrubs, lotions, and oils that have ingredients popular in the Jewish culture.

Dead sea salt scrubs can be a great option in this case.

By choosing something that can connect your friends and family to their roots you are directly honoring not only the Jewish culture and tradition but also the Jewish faith.

Judaica

If you really want to choose a gift that has a unique and deep religious meaning then you will want to direct your attention to Jewish ceremonial art, or Judaica pieces.

These can include Menorahs, Mezuzah’s, Kiddush cups, and many more. By choosing a gift that has depictions of Jerusalem or has words and phrases from the Jewish Bible you are going to help your friends and family connect with their faith daily.

Apart from choosing the perfect gift, you'll also want to present your gift in the best possible way. Because Hannukah often coincides with Christmas the stores may be filled with Christmas items, colors, and patterns.

You should try to avoid all of those and instead choose colors associated with Hannukah. Blue and White are the key colors during this holiday and they are the colors that you should try to find. 

Gift-giving during Hannukah can be an extremely enjoyable time if done right. For the most part, the most important thing to consider during this time of year is what you are celebrating.

By having a good understanding of both the religious and cultural practices you will be able to come up with the most unique gifts for Hannukah.