The most fun part of Chanukkah for many children, and, lets be honest, most adults too. Unless you, like Harley, are playing strip-dreidl, it is possibly the most boring game in existance, and like War (the card game, not the Iraq) in its endlessness.
David A. Wilensky, blogging for Jewcy complains that "the day that someone told me that not only is the practice of Hanukkah gift-giving uniquely American, but that it is a patronizing practice designed to keep Jewish kinderlach from feeling left out around Christmas," was a "tramatic" one. Jewfaq of Jewish in a Gentile World takes a more sympathetic view, and tells a story from college about how some unaffiliated Jews connect to the holiday, and really want a Jewish holiday to compete with Christmas. Smeliana of Smelblog posts a song that her father (a Reform Rabbi) has composed in honor of the gift-giving season.
Cori of Am Israel Chai talks about what it feels like to be an "adult" buying Chanukkah gifts for kids. Daniel S. of The Kentucky Democrat, like many before him, notes that "Jews get practical presents" for Chanukkah, a trend that I have definitely observed in my own life. Eliot of Fasthugs points out that Jews are also well-known gamblers, so the targeted advertising for "Xtreme Dreidl Raffle" is totally warranted, and is sure to be super-succesful.
Last, but not least, Slate has an article on how much satisfaction people get from presents. The answer? 20% less than the worth of the gift. And for the record, I am an awesome gift-giver. Just ask Harley.
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3 comments:
I am a big fan of giving people Mr. or Mrs. Potato Head. The gift is always unexpected, and buckets of fun for everyone.
One Chanukkah all I wanted was "A Barrel of Monkeys." My friends complied, and I am now the proud owner of something like 7 barrels of monkeys.
the Jewish in a gentile world links to a different site than the one you mention
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