Is it customary to give gifts for Hanukkah?
813628
One present for each night.\nSave the best one for last!!
855376
Christmas and Hanukkah.\nWhy does it have to be one or the other! why not both.  The Christians can have Christmas and the Jewish can have Hanukkah.  Love all people, and let all people be happy with their celebration and with what they believe.  Peace to ALL\n\nMy uncle and my brother bother are married to Jewish ladies.  and they both with their families celebrate Hanukkah, because it comes first, and then they celebrate Christmas.  Celebration is great, it is better than fighting or having any hate toward others. Enjoy, life is short, be happy.
1010114
no always take a gift...............//...................
75365
Yes you do have to get a present.  And flowers and dinner are ok, but do something different, creative, and something that says, "I know you and i know what you like."
410135
I'm not an expert on proper etiquette, but if it were me, I would say, as you know, Uncle Jeebers has passed on. Upon his request, please accept this monetary gift to have and do with as you wish.
17915
Gee I didn't know there were rules. \n  I think most people buy gifts for those they care about the most and maybe a few other obligatory gifts, like your boss, the kids teacher etc.\n  There are no hard and fast rules though and each family has their own traditions also. Good Luck
896148
It depends on what your beliefs are.   Holland opens their gifts on Christmas Eve and Canadians, Americans generally open their's on Christmas Day.   My mother prefers Christmas Eve because it is hard for her to wait until Christmas Day.   My gift opening often depends on whom is giving me the gift.  Some of my gifts are not opened until several weeks after the holidays as I get together with friends that where busy through the holiday season with their families.  Some gifts get open the day I recieve them because the giver wants to see the look on my face as I am recieving.   Between my daughter and I we usually do it on Christmas day because of the grandchildren.   Any time that is right for you, is the time to open them ;-)
332233
I don't celebrate Hanukkah but i think the best place could be as simple as Wal-mart. I heard of people getting game boys or games. I think the dollar would even be ok. Well, maybe ur really religious you should give maybe pop up bible stories or maybe even make something. I'm not really sure. There are stores that sell especially religious stuff and you should check one out.
732251
Generally, the best gift for a bar or bat mitzvah is money - either cash or even a gift card.  Good gift card ideas are Amazon, Borders, that kind of thing.
152637
If someone gave you a present for your birthday, then it's polite to give them one for theirs.  Basically though, give a gift when you feel inclined to, maybe because you're old friends, or family members, or the person helped you out a lot this year.  Don't worry about them feeling like they have to "repay" you for your gift.  Gifts are just that -- gifts -- and they shouldn't be thought of as favors.
805025
When I have gone to Bat/Bar Mitzvahs, I have always given cash or savings bonds. In the Jewish religion, 18 is a lucky number so usually the cash gifts I gave were either $36 or $54. Some people also choose to give jewelery.
67636
it's really kind of a holiday where the guy gets the girl something but not vice versa, although some girls choose to give a gift to a guy. If you choose to do so, make it something inexpensive, maybe like a music CD or something and a card.
27711
Kindling the Hanukkah Lights\n\nThe primary ritual, according to Jewish law and custom, is to light a single light each night for eight nights. As a universally-practiced "beautification" of the mitzvah, an additional candle is added each night, for a total of thirty-six over the course of eight nights.\n\nThe lights can be candles or oil lamps. Electric lights are sometimes used and are acceptable in places where open flame is not permitted, such as a hospital room. When a formal candelabra or menorah is used, it is the special secular menorah used for Hanukkah - which holds eight candles, plus the servant candle. (A religious menorah holds only seven candles, plus the servant candle). Ashenazic Jews (central and east European Jews) usually call the eight-candled version a "Hanukkah menorah." Some Sephardic Jews (west European, Mediterranean and Latin American Jews) just call it "a hanukkah". In the State of Israel, the secular menorah used for Hanukkah is usually called a "hanukiah".\n\nAn extra light is lit each night and placed near the Hanukah lights. The purpose of this is to adhere to the prohibition of using the Hanukkah lights for anything other than publicizing - and meditating on - the Hanukkah story (in contrast to Sabbath candles which are meant to be used for illumination). Hence, if one were to need extra illumination, the extra "servant" candle would be available and one would avoid using the prohibited lights, as derived from the Talmud (Tracate Shabbat 21b-23a). Some use the "guard" candle to light the others.\n\nThe reason for the lights is not for the "lighting of the house within", but rather for the "illumination of the house without", so that passers-by should see it and be reminded of the holiday's miracle. Accordingly lamps are set up at a prominent window or near the door leading to the street. It is customary amongst some Ashkenazim to have a separate menorah for each family member (customs vary), whereas most Sephardim light one hanukkah for the whole household. Only when there was danger of anti-semitic persecution were lamps supposed to be hidden from public view, as was the case in Persia under the rule of the fire-worshipers, or in parts of Europe before and during World War II.\n\n[edit]\nWhen to light the lights\nHanukkah lights should burn for at least one half hour after it gets dark. The standard candles sold for Hanukkah burn for half an hour, so on most days this requirement can be met by lighting the candles when it is dark out. Friday night presents a problem, however. Candles must be lit before the start of Shabbat and inexpensive Hanukkah candles do not burn long enough to meet the requirement. A simple solution is to use "tea lights" or Shabbat candles, arranging them in a straight line and setting the shammus candle apart and above the rest.\n\n[edit]\nBlessings over the candles\n \nUS stamp honoring Hanukkah and showing a Menorah with colored candlesTypically three blessings (Berakhot singular Berakhah) are recited during this eight-day festival. On the first night of Hanukkah, Jews recite all three blessings, on all subsequent nights, they recite only the first two. The blessings are said before or after the candles are lit depending on tradition. On the first night of Hanukkah one light (candle, lamp, or electric) is lit on the right side of the Menorah, on the following night a second light is placed to the left of the first and is lit first proceeding from left to right, and so on each night.\n\n[edit]\nThe first blessing\nRecited all eight nights just prior to lighting the candles:\n\nBaruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha-olam, asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav v'tzivanu l'hadlik neir (shel) chanukah. \nTranslation: "Praised are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, Who sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to kindle the Hanukkah lights."\n\n[edi
528272
You don't have too, it your own personal choice. Remember, it is all just marketing or tradition:\n\nBirthdays - tradition\nNew Years - just marketing\nValentines Day - not a day for gift giving - just marketing\nEaster/Ostrea - tradition/marketing\nChristmas/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa - tradition/marketing\nAnniversaries - personal tradition\nSurgeries - personal choice\n\nYou get the point.
945106
I give every year. My daughter is so blessed that she gets so many toys that she sometimes dont even play with them. So I keep the boxes and every holiday I have her give up some of her toys to make room for the ones she will be getting for christmas, put them in the boxes and donate them. I teach her the importance of giving and she really enjoys it. Every child should get a gift for christmas.
826619
Merry Christmas works fine if the holiday you're talking about is Christmas. You could also wish someone a happy Hanukkah or whatever. If someone said happy Hanukkah to me I would say "Thanks, same to you" even though I'm not Jewish. I wouldn't get offended. I wouldn't worry about being so PC. Do you fret about every little thing you say in your life? I would give myself panic attacks if I were that worried about offending people just by wishing them a happy whatever day. What if you wish someone a happy Groundhog day and they don't celebrate Groundhog day? Should they get offended?
55392
You mean Hanukkah and Kwanzaa.  See links.