Do you get gifts on Hanukkah?

Answer 1

Many families have the custom of giving presents on Hanukkah; some on every night of the 8 nights, some on a single night.

This is a custom that has no firm basis in Jewish law.

Gift giving is most common among American and Canadian Jews, but it's a custom that only started a few decades ago due to influence from Christmas.

If gifts are exchanged, they are usually given each night during the 8 nights of the holiday. There is no rule about how many presents are given each night, but it is often 1 per night.

It is more traditional to give money or chocolate coins than gifts.

Answer 2

The custom of gift giving on Hanukkah is relatively new. It began in the U.S. around the 1950's and 1960's. It is not a traditional part of Hanukkah, and most likely came from the custom of Gift Giving on Christmas.

Since it is a new custom, there is no standard regarding gift giving. Some households open on present each night. Others open all presents open presents only on the first or last night.

Some Orthodox and non-orthdox Jews do not exchange Hanukkah presents. Hassidc and Ultra-Orthodox Jews generally never exchange Hanukkah presents.

As for the type of gifts given on Hanukkah, there are no rules.

Answer 3

Some people give gifts on Hanukkah, but it's non-traditional. The only traditional gift on Hanukkah is the gelt (coins) given to children.

The act of gift-giving is not in any way connected with Hanukkah historically. It was merely a result of Jewish kids in the United States in the 1960s who saw their Christian neighbors receiving gifts and wanting to get in on the action. Since a large percentage of the Jewish population lives in the United States, many Jews follow this imported custom, but there is no Jewish reason or Jewish tradition to give gifts on Hanukkah.

Answer 4

Gift giving for Hanukkah is a non-Orthodox practice, chiefly among North American Jews. But even then, not all Jews do this. It only started a few decades ago due to influence from Christmas.
If gifts are exchanged, they are usually given each night during the 8 nights of the holiday. There is no rule about how many presents are given each night, but it is often 1 per night.
The only traditional gift at Hanukkah is the gelt (coins) given to children.

Answer 5

Some families exchange presents, and some do not. Gift giving is most common among American and Canadian Jews, but it's a non-Orthodox practice that only started a few decades ago due to influence from Christmas.
If gifts are exchanged, they are usually given each night during the 8 nights of the holiday.

It is more traditional to give money or chocolate coins than gifts.

Answer 6

Some families exchange presents, and some do not. Gift giving is most common among American and Canadian Jews, but it's a custom that only started a few decades ago due to influence from Christmas.

If gifts are exchanged, they are usually given each night during the 8 nights of the holiday. There is no rule about how many presents are given each night, but it is often 1 per night.

It is more traditional to give money or chocolate coins than gifts.

Answer 7

The only traditional present on Hanukkah is the gelt (coins) given to children.

Answer 8

Some people do, but it's non-traditional. The only traditional gift during Hanukkah is the gelt (coins) given to children.