2007-12-23 07:58:29 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Holidays ➔ Hanukkah
I'm Jewish and the main reason is because us jewish kids get jelouse of the Christian's when they get presents for Christmas. It made us feel left out. So over time, parents have begun to give their children Hannukah presents when really Hannukah is one of the least important holidays for us. Also, with all the "Holiday Spirit" it's nice to just get into the spirit by exchanging gifts. Hope that helped!
2007-12-23 08:02:16 · answer #1 · answered by Abi 3 · 3⤊ 2⤋
first of all hanukkah is not a jewish christmas. presents were given in the 1900's (a modern thing) because everyone else was getting presents(christmas) so we decided to just start giving presents.
2007-12-23 20:46:05 · answer #2 · answered by lauren4495 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Not all Jews give gifts on Hanukkah. It's more of an American Jewish thing to have "eight nights of gifts".
The universal traditions of Hanukkah involve lighting the candles (or oil lights), and eating foods cooked in oil (to commemorate the oil in the Temple) - usually latkes (potato pancakes) or donuts (sufganiot/jelly donuts).
Other traditions include giving (usually token) gifts, donating money to charity, eating chocolate in the shape of coins ("gelt") and playing with the "dreidl" top.
I think the present-giving at Hanukkah in the U.S. is a natural off-shoot of people getting together for a holiday. It's a way to celebrate. And there's all that gift-related advertising at the same time of year that Hanukkah usually falls.
We are a U.S. Orthodox Jewish family and we give (token) gifts each night, but many of our friends (especially the Israelis) give/expect none. (Our gifts tend to be hairbrushes, books, or socks, wrapped haphazardly. Or a piece of chocolate.)
A more universally accepted Jewish gift-giving tradition is to give something to the children on Passover as an "afikomen gift". It's also traditional for a husband to give his wife (and children) something (article of new clothing, jewelry) before pilgrimage holidays (Passover, Shavuot, Sukkot) and Rosh Hashanah.
2007-12-23 20:22:19 · answer #3 · answered by Juggling Frogs 5 · 7⤊ 0⤋
well Hanukkah has already happened
but christmas has still to come
2007-12-23 16:02:40 · answer #4 · answered by steven m 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Why do Christians, etc. get Christmas presents?
Ahh, the power of rhetoric.
2007-12-23 16:01:56 · answer #5 · answered by juliEmAnia 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
well i'm christian and jewish. i get both. but we are celebrating the miracle of hannukah. the oil lasted for 8 days. it's a tradition.
2007-12-23 16:02:10 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
i am jewish and we get presents because our parents dont want us to feel left out. so it is becuase people do on chrismas.
2007-12-23 22:21:43 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Because everyone loves presents. Shows how similar we all are.
2007-12-23 16:00:51 · answer #8 · answered by Tommy B 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
hanukkah for them is like christmas.
2007-12-23 16:01:16 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 4⤋
why do Christians get Christmas gifts?
yeah...think about that one.
2007-12-23 19:41:47 · answer #10 · answered by JulyFire 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋