8 Hannukah Gift Ideas

Hanukkah, or Chanukah, is an eight-day Jewish celebration that takes place in early to mid-December. Because of the significance of this holiday, it is easy to find suitable Hanukkah gifts. The list below features a total of eight gift ideas to help you with your Hanukkah gift shopping. Be prepared, these are not your ordinary gift ideas. Each of the suggestions on this list has a Hanukkah theme which makes it even more personal to the celebration. 

Traditions Of Hanukkah

There are several important traditions connected to Hanukkah. They include the lighting of the menorah, enjoying fried foods along with jelly doughnuts, playing with little wooden tops called dreidels, and the giving of presents. The list below features some of the most popular Hanukkah-themed gifts you can find.

Menorah 

Even if you are not Jewish, you should recognize the design of the symbol of Judaism. The Menorah is a centerpiece of Hanukkah and is one of those must-have items in the home if you intend to celebrate the holiday. A silver-plated Menorah will not only last a long time but can easily become a treasured family heirloom that gets passed down through the generations. This gift is also fitting to give to young family members who are just starting on their own and are interested in exploring their family heritage.

Hand Towel With Hebrew Blessing

Nothing beats a practical gift and who doesn’t need a hand towel or two? The difference here is that this one has a Hebrew prayer printed on it. So, in a way, you are giving a gift that is not only practical enough to be used frequently, but you are also giving a gift that has some significant meaning to it as well. The hand towel is made of a durable cotton blend and will last a long time with the Hebrew prayer printed along the edge to remind the user of their heritage and bring them peace at home. 

Sufganiyot

There are jelly doughnuts and there are jelly doughnuts. However, nothing compares to the traditional jelly doughnut of Hanukkah called the sufganiyot. These are truly a treat and although there is no guarantee that the local bakery makes them, once you try this Hanukkah favorite, you may never go back to those drive-thru jelly doughnuts again. Is a box of these a good Hanukkah gift? You bet, because it’s a gift that can easily be shared and enjoyed with family and friends as soon as it is opened.

Truffle Oil

Oils are an important part of Hanukkah, as it celebrates that oil lamps lasted for eight days in the Temple until more could be found. So frying in oil is a popular style of cooking during Hanukkah. A great gift is flavored cooking oils or flavored salad dressing oils—and truffle oil makes a perfect gift for many Jewish homes. With elegant flavor, it’s the perfect finishing oil for a gourmet celebration. You are not limited to truffle oil, either. You can gift oils that are garlic-infused or herb-infused as well. 

Candy-Filled Dreidels

Considering that children are always expecting to receive simple dreidels as gifts each year during Hanukkah, why not add some fun to those gifts by giving dreidels that have candy stored inside? Not only will your gift be warmly received, but no one is going to mind a few sweets added to the mix. You never know, your candy-filled dreidels may become an annual tradition that all the kids in your family – including some adult kids – will be looking forward to each December.

Socks

How exactly did socks get on this list? Well, probably because socks are timeless and come in various bold, bright colors. You can also find socks in all kinds of patterns, designs, and even with graphics on them. What makes socks such a cool Hanukkah gift is that they are practical and in December, it’s important to keep your feet warm and cozy, isn’t it? No Cold Feet’s guide has more ideas for finding the perfect Hanukkah socks.

Mezuzah

This is a cool gift for Hanukkah. A mezuzah is a small scroll and holder that Jewish people place at their door thresholds. They put them inside and outside of the doors. The idea behind the mezuzah is that it reminds people as they pass through the doorway that God’s presence is there. It is also customary for people to touch the mezuzah as they pass it to acknowledge they understand what it signifies. Giving one (or more) of these at Hanukkah is a fitting gift as each entrance to a Jewish home should have one carefully affixed to the threshold.

Homemade Hanukkah Cookie Cutters

Who doesn’t like cookies? Well, instead of just making ordinary drop cookies, with these specially designed cookie cutters, you can bake up a batch of cookies that feature Hanukkah themes and shapes. Talk about making Hanukkah fun for everyone with these great cookie cutters! They are made from strong plastic and are easy to use and clean. Plus, you don’t have to wait for Hanukkah to roll around before you use them. Anytime you bake cookies, you can be reminded of your family heritage just by using these homemade Hanukkah Cookie Cutters.

Honorable Mention

Gelt

These iconic chocolate coins are the perfect gift for distributing to children during one of the nights of Hanukkah. They look like real money but feature a solid milk chocolate “coin” once the outer wrapping is removed. Although they are considered a treat these days, the handing out of gelt is a time-honored tradition that forms part of the Hanukkah celebration.

In Conclusion 

How fitting! We found a total of eight (plus one) great Hanukkah gift ideas to help you mark the celebration with others. There are most certainly several more Hanukkah-themed gifts out there as this list is just a hint at what kinds of gift ideas are fitting for the season. Also, most of the gift ideas noted here are things you can purchase on a small budget. Have fun and Happy Hanukkah!