• Give a dreideldreidel. image by diligent from Fotolia.com
  
  Hanukkah---also called the Festival of Lights---is not "the Jewish Christmas." It is a holiday that commemorates Judas Maccabee's rededication of the Temple of Jerusalem after its desecration. The eight-day festival focuses on worship and on the family; there was little emphasis on Hanukkah gifts until modern times. Therefore, it is appropriate to give gifts that celebrate the significance of the holiday.
  
  

Menorah

• A menorah---the traditional nine-branched candlestick used to celebrate Hanukkah---is a very nice gift. Menorahs are available in every imaginable style, from elegant silver and china models to children's menorahs shaped like soccer balls or trains. This gift is especially welcome if the recipient is someone who collects menorahs, as is a large assortment of candles. For children, include an age-appropriate book that describes the miracle of the oil and how the menorah symbolizes light defeating darkness.
  
  

Dreidel

• A dreidel is a small toy, something like a top with squared-off sides. There is a Yiddish initial on each side of the dreidel; together they stand for "A Great Miracle Happened There" or (if the dreidel is from Israel) "A Great Miracle Happened Here." It is traditional during Hanukkah to play a gambling game using a dreidel, so a new dreidel is a welcome gift. Give a roll of coins---real or foil-wrapped chocolate---along with the dreidel for game-playing.
  
  

Gelt

• Gelt is the Yiddish word for money, and gelt is a customary Hanukkah gift. It is most often given in multiples of 18 ($18, $36, $54 and so on) because the number 18 stands for the Hebrew word "chai," which means "life." Money gifts are usually modest and usually given only to children; chocolate foil-wrapped gelt is another popular gift.
  
  

Food

• Since Hanukkah is a time for families to get together, feasting is an integral part of the celebration. Foods fried in oil are customary, in honor of the olive oil that kept the Temple flame lit for eight days, so in addition to latkes (potato pancakes) you can give doughnuts, fritters and other deep-fried desserts. For an especially nice presentation, arrange the food on a special Hanukkah-themed serving platter and cover it with a linen cloth for a gift that can be reused every year.