Archive for the 'Gelt' category

by Checkout Chick

Hanukkah is The Festival of Lights, at least that’s what Adam Sandler says. (Download The Chanukah Song.) While Christmas is a very important religious holiday, Hanukkah is a relatively minor holiday on the Jewish calendar. However, as Christmas has become more and more commercial Hanukkah has followed. Gift-giving has become the central them of each holiday.

The tradition of giving one gift each night of the eight day long holiday is one that Jewish children look forward to all year. After lighting the Menorah each night, Jewish families will gather together to exchange gifts. Typically, there will be a night (often the first night) where “gelt” is given. (Gelt is the Yiddish word for money.) Frequently gelt comes in the form of chocolate, gold coins. However, it’s not uncommon for parents or grandparents to give children actual coins or paper money as well.

Today, Jewish families can be just as crazy as their Christian counterparts when it comes to buying gifts. There is always a rush to get the hottest toys such as Zhu Zhu Pets, Mindflex or Elmo’s Tickle Hands.