I am giving gifts to my college professors before the Christmas break. I am planning on giving mugs (with snowflakes painted on the outside) filled with Hershey kisses and flavored coffees or cocoas. Would it be rude or inappropriate to give my Jewish professor a gift as well, saying something like, "Happy Holidays"? Since I'm not Jewish, I have no clue on this type of thing!!!
2006-11-26 08:47:57 · 19 answers · asked by mattiesmom2001 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
Happy Hannukah, Happy Chanukah, Happy Holidays, are all appropriate. The first two refer to the 8-day Jewish celebration.
My best friend of 30 years, a teacher, is of the Jewish faith. Receiving a gift with "Happy Hannukah" on it makes it more special as the student took the time to remember his/her teacher is not Christian.
Your gift to your Jewish professor will coincide with the gifts you are planning to give to your Christian professors, as Chanukah in 2006 begins at sundown on December 15 with the first full day of this Jewish celebration on December 16.
2006-11-26 09:41:14 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hanukkah Gift Giving Etiquette
2016-11-01 09:00:10 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've faced this problem before and have come up with a mutally advantageous solution. If you know the person's religion, recognize it. So if they're jewish, say happy hanukkah, this way they'll feel like you've recognized their religion, and then it doesnt matter if they say merry christmas or happy hanukkah back, all that matters is the act of giving the gift, but to follow along the lines of etiquette, if you know they're religion, use the appropriate phrase, if you don't, use happy holidays.
2006-11-26 12:06:26 · answer #3 · answered by tdavis179@sbcglobal.net 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You could give a gift for Hanukkah which is a Jewish holiday around the same time as Christmas.
2006-11-26 08:52:32 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Give the gift but wish the Professor "Happy Hanukkah" instead of "Merry Christmas." Jewish families celebrate Hanukkah for a number of days... it is a very special holy time for them and they give gift to one another each day of their celebration. Good Luck!
2006-11-26 08:54:21 · answer #5 · answered by Callie Kitty 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It would necessarily be bad etiquette, since Hanukkah and Christmas fall within days of one another every year. Just offer the gift as a Hanukkah present. 'Happy Holidays' works, too, if you feel you might be stepping away from your own beliefs by giving a Hanukkah gift.
2006-11-26 08:52:16 · answer #6 · answered by anita.revolution 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It depends entirely on how religious and conservative the person you are planning to give it to is.
It's a case to case kind of thing. I'd stick to giving a Hanukkah card with the mug, to be safe.
I know I'm Muslim, and I have no problem with people giving me Christmas cards, or wishing me a happy holiday, but I know some people who are sensitive to it.
If you do not know this prof well enought to know how they may react, stick with the safest route.
2006-11-26 10:41:59 · answer #7 · answered by CutiePie1707 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It would be fine, because "Happy Holdiays!" works for every holiday celebrated in that season. Anyways, Jewish people celebrate Hanukkah at that time, so it would almost be like giving them a Hanukkah gift in a way.
2006-11-26 08:51:25 · answer #8 · answered by chococat 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Hanukkah is the festival of lights
Instead of one day of presents,
We get eight craaaazy nights!
--From "The Hannukah Song," by Adam Sandler
As long as you're giving out gifts, I think it would be nice to give something to everybody, as many religions have gift-giving this time of year. As long as it isn't something blatantly religious (this isn't), I think it's a nice gesture, and it would be way weirder if you left one person out in the giving.
Happy holidays!
2006-11-26 08:52:45 · answer #9 · answered by SlowClap 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Giving a gift is no problem. But since this person's religion may not observe Christmas,don't expect a gift in return.
2006-11-26 14:55:02 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋