I admit that when the kids were younger, much younger, I was always relieved when Chanukah came somewhere near to Christmas. Our tradition was to give a present a night. It could be a deck of cards or a bicycle bell, but
they got something every night. We put the gifts on the mantle and every night the kids could open the gift of their choice. When I was a kid, many ,many years before this time, I don’t remember getting presents. My Orthodox mother let me tie a sock to the lamp in the living room and in it would be an orange, and some chocolate candy. It was war time and a chocolate candy bar was a real treat. I was happy. The present that I did get was closer to my
birthday, a few days after Christmas.Chanukah wasn’t a big deal. We did light the candles, have lotkes, but it wasn’t as impressive as we make it to be now. No presents stand out, but I do remember getting a bathrobe one year. I also remember that my grown up cousin, married and with a baby who I baby sat, gave me a 16 inch soft ball. What? What was she thinking. True ,I liked sports, but a soft ball.75 years later, I can remember how stunned I was and how I had to say how perfect the gift was. Lier, lier pants on fire.