Hanukkah, the festival of lights.
Each year during the darkest, coldest time of the year, we retell the story of the Maccabees, the ancient band of the Jewish Zealots who defeated the Assyrian army. But what the holiday is really about? It is shopping, gambling and eating lots of fried food.
There are eight nights to Hanukkah, and if you are buying a gift for a child, they will expect to receive a present for each one of those eight nights. You are going to have to buy one big present, but you are not going to buy a big present for each one of the nights. So, I would recommend buying something like socks, or underwear, or candles to give during the earlier nights of Hanukkah and then perhaps, on the eighth night to present tem with the X-box.
If you are buying a present for a relative, depending on how close you are, one present might be enough. So, if you really like Aunt Esther, maybe just one bottle of Schudavits will be okay. But if you are buying for your brother, you might want to get in perhaps, two or three gifts.
Now if your child buying a present for your parents, one present will usually be enough and maybe a card too.
If you plan on throwing a Hanukkah party, make sure that you are going to have enough food and wine to feed all of your guests. Z-bars sells delicious pre-made latkes and Moichescocher bakery in the east Village has the best sufganiyot.
One good way to loose a lot of money on Hanukkah is at you do not know how to play dreidel. Dreidel is a game that is played with a little wooden top that has four letters on each of the four sides which stands for “Nes gadol haya sham,” or “A great miracle happened there.”
Dreidel is a betting game. So, before you sit down with all the kids on the floor, you want to make sure that you brush up on your Hebrew letters and your strategy, but of course, you do not have to play with money. You can play with chocolate gelt or with pennies.
And of course, in order to celebrate Hanukkah, you need a Hanukkah Menorah or Hanukkiah on which you will light a candle on each one of the eight nights. Menorah has come on all shapes and sizes and in all price ranges. You can buy very fancy Hanukkiah at Museum Gift Shops or I am sure you can go to Washington Square Park and a Kabag representative will give you one for free.
I hope this tips have been helpful and Hanukkah Sameach.
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