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MissJones
I need a nap!
Member since 5/05 22150 total posts
Name:
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I know it's early but Interfaith Families-Q about Chrismukah-Even if you only celebrate Hanukkah, come on down!
We celebrate both and DS is getting to the age that we need traditions/structure.
For Christmas, he gets a stocking, new pjs on Christmas Eve and gifts from us AND from Santa.
But what are some good ideas for Hanukkah?
Even if you are not interfaith, what do you do regarding gifts for Hanukkah?
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Posted 8/8/13 7:46 AM |
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Jacksmommy
My love muffin!
Member since 1/07 5819 total posts
Name: Liz
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Re: I know it's early but Interfaith Families-Q about Chrismukah-Even if you only celebrate Hanukkah, come on down!
My son has his own menorah always. When he was a baby it was a plush one, then a little older a wooden one and now at 4 he lit his own. I do one gift a day but it could be underwear or socks etc. we get together with family to have latkes and stuff! We don't do Christmas big. This is the first year since he was a baby that we will have a tree. We don't do stockings and we don't do Santa. It's really just one or two more gifts.
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Posted 8/8/13 8:09 AM |
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mbg1007
LIF Adult
Member since 3/09 1247 total posts
Name:
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Re: I know it's early but Interfaith Families-Q about Chrismukah-Even if you only celebrate Hanukkah, come on down!
We light the candles, say the prayers and sing a hanukkah song each night and then DD gets 1 present each night, starting out small and getting bigger until her "big" gift on the 8th night. I also buy jelly donuts for dessert and we make latkes. We have a family Hanukkah party and another with friends....it's a pretty busy week. Eta: dd also has her own menorah to light and she has a really cute plush one with her name on it that we ordered from one step ahead.
Message edited 8/8/2013 8:16:07 AM.
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Posted 8/8/13 8:10 AM |
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july4mrsO
Happy boy!
Member since 5/10 2867 total posts
Name: Jess
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I know it's early but Interfaith Families-Q about Chrismukah-Even if you only celebrate Hanukkah, come on down!
Great question! I was raised with interfaith holidays and I'm trying to do the same with my DS. He was so young last year but I want to try and be more consistent now. I love the idea of the plush menorah, I have to go find one.
We do little gifts each night for Hanukkah and one big gift (usually the first night). I want to do a Hanukkah dinner with the family with latkes. We tried last year but we were hosting so many family events that it didn't happen. We still do stockings, the tree, and Santa for xmas
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Posted 8/8/13 8:23 AM |
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Ma-n-Pa2008
Mommy's Big Boy

Member since 3/09 2584 total posts
Name: Melissa
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I know it's early but Interfaith Families-Q about Chrismukah-Even if you only celebrate Hanukkah, come on down!
we do pretty much the same as everyone else has said. I bought DS the plush menorah from one step ahead last year and i also light one (with him watching) as we say the prayers and sing a song. we have my family over the first night for latkes and we all exchange our gifts. i usually have just my mom and sister over another night during the week as well because they usually buy DS 2-3 gifts and i try to give DS a small gift each night as well.
We also do a big xmas eve with DH's family and my family xmas day, where DS gets a few more presents. We have a tree and stockings at home too. I was raised interfaith as well and I'm trying to do the same for DS.
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Posted 8/8/13 8:44 AM |
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LSP2005
Bunny kisses are so cute!
Member since 5/05 19461 total posts
Name: L
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Re: I know it's early but Interfaith Families-Q about Chrismukah-Even if you only celebrate Hanukkah, come on down!
This year Hanukkah is the same night as Thanksgiving. What I normally do is decorate for each holiday, but I am going to decorate for both simultaneously this year.
I have this place mat I got at Bed Bath and Beyond that you can rotate and it "lights" the candles. I have the kids light that. We have a few other decorations that I put out in the house too. Electric menorah Real menorah Hanukkah dish towels Hanukkah table cloths (but I will have thanksgiving out this year) and replace it afterwards with a hanukkah one.
We do one big gift and then smaller gifts or an activity (like tickets to a show). I have a few books about hanukkah and each night we read a new one along with this poem for each night. It is all about being a good person, helping others, looking for your inner light, etc.
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Posted 8/8/13 8:49 AM |
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mbg1007
LIF Adult
Member since 3/09 1247 total posts
Name:
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Re: I know it's early but Interfaith Families-Q about Chrismukah-Even if you only celebrate Hanukkah, come on down!
Posted by LSP2005
This year Hanukkah is the same night as Thanksgiving. What I normally do is decorate for each holiday, but I am going to decorate for both simultaneously this year.
I have this place mat I got at Bed Bath and Beyond that you can rotate and it "lights" the candles. I have the kids light that. We have a few other decorations that I put out in the house too. Electric menorah Real menorah Hanukkah dish towels Hanukkah table cloths (but I will have thanksgiving out this year) and replace it afterwards with a hanukkah one.
We do one big gift and then smaller gifts or an activity (like tickets to a show). I have a few books about hanukkah and each night we read a new one along with this poem for each night. It is all about being a good person, helping others, looking for your inner light, etc.
The first night (and first candle) is actually wed night, the night before Thanksgiving, crazy early this year
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Posted 8/8/13 9:07 PM |
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I know it's early but Interfaith Families-Q about Chrismukah-Even if you only celebrate Hanukkah, come on down!
We need to get better also but only do Hanukkah...I got DD a little latke "cooking" set online and a wooden menorah with candles..last year she was into the candles and played with the gelt that came with the latke set...this year, we will take all of it out and work with it again...btw..I think we got both at Land of Nod
ETA we have books about Hanukkah also...the author Karen Katz does a lot of holiday books that are cute for kids
ALSO..I can't believe I forgot this..Fairway does a Hanukkah night and they gave out jelly donuts and latkes and a million things but it was fun and the donuts were delish..DD loved..haha
Message edited 8/8/2013 9:38:23 PM.
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Posted 8/8/13 9:31 PM |
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Ltdentway99
LIF Adult
Member since 9/06 1752 total posts
Name:
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Re: I know it's early but Interfaith Families-Q about Chrismukah-Even if you only celebrate Hanukkah, come on down!
My parents always got me Hanukah bags. There was gelt and dreidels in it. You could also light the menorah.
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Posted 8/8/13 9:42 PM |
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EricaAlt
LIF Adult

Member since 7/08 22665 total posts
Name: Erica
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Re: I know it's early but Interfaith Families-Q about Chrismukah-Even if you only celebrate Hanukkah, come on down!
The boys each have their own menorah and we light them all each night. 1 gift each night we do a few family Hanukkah parties where the kids get gifts from the family members, eat latkes, etc they also get a dreidel and Hanukkah gelt too. I like the ones that spin and make colors. we have lots of Hanukkah books.
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Posted 8/9/13 9:03 AM |
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PoppySeed
LIF Infant
Member since 10/09 358 total posts
Name:
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Re: I know it's early but Interfaith Families-Q about Chrismukah-Even if you only celebrate Hanukkah, come on down!
We light the menorah every night and she gets a gift every night of Chanukah. One or two nights are bigger presents and the rest are small things. And one night we get together with family (this year it'll be Thanksgiving) and she gets gifts from them instead of us. We play dreidel, sing songs, eat latkes and read lots of Chanukah books.
For Christmas we go to my in-laws, where they have a tree and are all decorated, sleep over on Christmas eve and she gets presents from that side of the family (& Santa ) on Christmas Day. We'll usually get together with extended family on that side another day that week and she'll get gifts from them.
We don't do gifts from us for both, because we feel it's just too much.
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Posted 8/9/13 9:21 AM |
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I know it's early but Interfaith Families-Q about Chrismukah-Even if you only celebrate Hanukkah, come on down!
I was raised interfaith. Mom is Jewish, dad is Catholic and we celebrate ALL holidays.
For Chanukah we all stood around the menorah and said the prayer. Then my parents would give us our presents every night (until we were older then we just got the first and last night...too expensive with Christmas). After lighting the candles and dinner, my sisters and I would go play dreidel.
For Christmas we always woke up and opened presents together and then our stockings. Then we had company come over for a big Christmas dinner. I'm 30 years old and have my own interfaith family now and I still do all of these traditions.
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Posted 8/9/13 10:45 AM |
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Melmel821
Love being a mom!

Member since 5/08 2776 total posts
Name: Melanie
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Re: I know it's early but Interfaith Families-Q about Chrismukah-Even if you only celebrate Hanukkah, come on down!
I bought a menorah when we got married and DH never lit it. And then it got ruined in our basement when it flooded and he got mad at me for not buying him a new one
Last year I did buy her 8 little toys for Hanukah. This year she will be 14 months and I hope my DH tries to instill more of the traditions in her. Not that she will get it but it's always another form of bonding.
Anyway, kids learn through play so I plan to buy toys and books and we'll learn a little more each year. I love the idea of the plush menorah!
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Posted 8/9/13 11:51 AM |
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Strawberry2468
It's summatime

Member since 3/09 4739 total posts
Name: Christine
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Re: I know it's early but Interfaith Families-Q about Chrismukah-Even if you only celebrate Hanukkah, come on down!
We will do the 8 nights of gifts. We did it last year but they were 2 mo old and had no clue. We did smaller stuff like almost stocking stuffer type stuff (sunglasses, headbands, books, cheap toys). And 1-2 were bigger gifts (still cheap b/c they had no clue).
As they get older we will continue to do smaller gifts each night with a big one at the end for Hanukkah just like DH did when he was little. Then xmas with santa.
We also have a Hanukkah bush we put up before they were born. No room for it now but we might bring it back somehow. and we do the menorah and latkes, gold coins, dradles, etc.
BTW Hanukkah begins ON Thanksgiving this year.
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Posted 8/9/13 12:33 PM |
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Re: I know it's early but Interfaith Families-Q about Chrismukah-Even if you only celebrate Hanukkah, come on down!
We light the candles, say the blessing, and he gets a gift every night. Christmas is hard to compete with when there's a big asss sparkly tree in the same room, but the gift a night does the trick!!!!
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Posted 8/9/13 1:04 PM |
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mbg1007
LIF Adult
Member since 3/09 1247 total posts
Name:
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Re: I know it's early but Interfaith Families-Q about Chrismukah-Even if you only celebrate Hanukkah, come on down!
Posted by Strawberry2468
We will do the 8 nights of gifts. We did it last year but they were 2 mo old and had no clue. We did smaller stuff like almost stocking stuffer type stuff (sunglasses, headbands, books, cheap toys). And 1-2 were bigger gifts (still cheap b/c they had no clue).
As they get older we will continue to do smaller gifts each night with a big one at the end for Hanukkah just like DH did when he was little. Then xmas with santa.
We also have a Hanukkah bush we put up before they were born. No room for it now but we might bring it back somehow. and we do the menorah and latkes, gold coins, dradles, etc.
BTW Hanukkah begins ON Thanksgiving this year.
Nope, the first night of Hanukkah is wed night 11/27, NOT thursday. The first night of a jewish holiday always comes before the first day. So, while the first day of Hanukkah is on Thursday, the first night and thus the first candle you light is on Wed night. http://www.chabad.org/holidays/chanukah/article_cdo/aid/671899/jewish/When-is-Hanukkah-Chanukah-in-2012-2013-2014-and-2015.htm
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Posted 8/9/13 1:21 PM |
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MikesBride
LIF Adult

Member since 12/09 1245 total posts
Name: Ilana
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I know it's early but Interfaith Families-Q about Chrismukah-Even if you only celebrate Hanukkah, come on down!
DH and SD are Presbyterian and I am Jewish. In the future we will have a Jewish household, so right now my Mom will give SD small presents for Hanukkah (some books, pen/pencil set, little things like that) and she celebrates xmas with my ILs. If she doesn't see them she gets a stocking and some presents, but we don't have a tree.
In the future, we will celebrate Hanukkah as a family, and Xmas will be something we do only with my ILs.
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Posted 8/9/13 1:50 PM |
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Strawberry2468
It's summatime

Member since 3/09 4739 total posts
Name: Christine
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Re: I know it's early but Interfaith Families-Q about Chrismukah-Even if you only celebrate Hanukkah, come on down!
Posted by mbg1007
Posted by Strawberry2468
We will do the 8 nights of gifts. We did it last year but they were 2 mo old and had no clue. We did smaller stuff like almost stocking stuffer type stuff (sunglasses, headbands, books, cheap toys). And 1-2 were bigger gifts (still cheap b/c they had no clue).
As they get older we will continue to do smaller gifts each night with a big one at the end for Hanukkah just like DH did when he was little. Then xmas with santa.
We also have a Hanukkah bush we put up before they were born. No room for it now but we might bring it back somehow. and we do the menorah and latkes, gold coins, dradles, etc.
BTW Hanukkah begins ON Thanksgiving this year.
Nope, the first night of Hanukkah is wed night 11/27, NOT thursday. The first night of a jewish holiday always comes before the first day. So, while the first day of Hanukkah is on Thursday, the first night and thus the first candle you light is on Wed night. http://www.chabad.org/holidays/chanukah/article_cdo/aid/671899/jewish/When-is-Hanukkah-Chanukah-in-2012-2013-2014-and-2015.htm
ahh Thanks! Then mpix has it wrong. I only saw b/c it came up this way when I made a photo calendar. It doesn't matter b/c we are with DHs family for TG this year so it works out.
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Posted 8/9/13 2:18 PM |
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LSP2005
Bunny kisses are so cute!
Member since 5/05 19461 total posts
Name: L
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Re: I know it's early but Interfaith Families-Q about Chrismukah-Even if you only celebrate Hanukkah, come on down!
Posted by mbg1007
Posted by LSP2005
This year Hanukkah is the same night as Thanksgiving. What I normally do is decorate for each holiday, but I am going to decorate for both simultaneously this year.
I have this place mat I got at Bed Bath and Beyond that you can rotate and it "lights" the candles. I have the kids light that. We have a few other decorations that I put out in the house too. Electric menorah Real menorah Hanukkah dish towels Hanukkah table cloths (but I will have thanksgiving out this year) and replace it afterwards with a hanukkah one.
We do one big gift and then smaller gifts or an activity (like tickets to a show). I have a few books about hanukkah and each night we read a new one along with this poem for each night. It is all about being a good person, helping others, looking for your inner light, etc.
The first night (and first candle) is actually wed night, the night before Thanksgiving, crazy early this year I am aware - thanks though. I did not say that it was the first night, just that the holiday fell on the same day as Thanksgiving. We celebrate all 8 nights not just the first night.
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Posted 8/9/13 4:08 PM |
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