The 20 best Hanukkah gifts to give this season
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Hanukkah, oh Hanukkah! The Jewish Festival of Lights brings with it eight days of festivities: menorah lighting, dreidel spinning, latke making, and perhaps the most fun of all (at least for those of us who love presents), gift-giving!
Of course, it's never easy to come up with holiday gift ideas, especially when you need to budget for eight whole nights of celebrating. Luckily, we're here to help recommend gifts your loved ones actually want to receive this Hanukkah. Whether you're shopping for grandparents, the kids, a coworker, or your besties, we've compiled an assorted list of gifts of all different shapes, sizes, and prices that are tailored to each gift recipient in your life. And don't worry, they're not as basic as a bag of chocolate gelt.
1. For the home chef: the Philips Airfryer XXL
Fried foods are traditional around Hanukkah, whether you're cooking up some potato latkes as appetizers or sufganiyot donuts for dessert. While everyone loves munching on treats like these, let's just say the miracle of oil need not apply here. Air fryers do away with that unhealthy grease, and have become a hugely popular kitchen gadget in 2019. We suspect they'll be on many a wishlist this year, so we recommend gifting the best air fryer we've tested. With it, your recipient can enjoy air-fried snacks not just this Hanukkah, but all year round.
Get the Philips Twin TurboStar Technology Airfryer XXL from Amazon for $199
2. For the active one: Fitbit Charge 3
After all the feasting done during the holiday season, it seems like living a more active lifestyle is on everyone's to-do list come New Years. Yet it can be hard to know where to start, or how to find the motivation to kickstart your wellness journey. Whether you're a high-performing athlete, or simply just trying to get some more steps in, a fitness tracker makes a perfect Hanukkah gift for anyone on the athletic spectrum. The Fitbit Charge 3 is our favorite fitness tracker, as it's comfortable and sleek enough for everyday wear, waterproof, has an ultra long battery life, will keep tracks of all your stats (heart rate, sleep, calories burned, etc.) and notify you to texts, calls, weather updates, plus so much more.
Get the FitBit Charge 3 from Amazon for $127.95
3. For your bubbe: Staub Round Cocotte
If your bubbe loves to make her favorite heirloom recipes for the family, she deserves the best cookware to make her meal prep all the more easy. Why not gift her with the best dutch oven on the market, which aced our tests when it came to braising meat, simmering a stew, and roasting veggies. That tasty brisket on the menu this Hanukkah? Meet your match. But really, you can't go wrong with giving the Staub Round Cocotte to any member of the family who loves being in the kitchen.
Get the Staub Cast Iron Round Cocotte from Amazon for $259.95
4. For your zayde: AncestryDNA Kit
With an incredibly long, complex, and tragic history, there's so much that can be learned about your Jewish heritage that you may not know about. If gramps is curious about his own, you can actually help him discover it this Hanukkah with an AncestryDNA kit. AncestryDNA has the largest pool of data to pull from with a database of over 15 million people worldwide, which allows the participant to discover a ton of details surrounding their unique familial history. AncestryDNA draws from over 350 regions as well, meaning it's possible to pinpoint ethnic roots and maybe even find some long lost relatives, which could make this Hanukkah a pretty unforgettable one.
Get the AncestryDNA Kit from Ancestry for $59
5. For the world traveler: The Large Away Suitcase
For the person in your life—perhaps a friend, or sibling—who alway seems to be planning their next trip, it's possible their luggage is pretty worn out from the constant wear and tear. If you want to make their holiday vacation go smoothly, the Away suitcase will make an amazing gift that's bound to be their new globetrotting companion. It outperformed all other hard-sided suitcases and took the top spot in that category when we tested the best luggage, plus you can choose from 14 different shades, depending on the recipient's favorite color.
Get The Large Suitcase from Away for $295
6. For the kids: Nintendo Switch
Whether or not you're going to give the kids one small or medium present for each of the first seven nights of Hanukkah, like the Mitzvah Moose or Mensch on a Bench, you'll want to save the best for last—the biggest gift to rule them all—the Nintendo Switch. The Switch will undoubtedly be one of the hottest gifts this season, especially with the upcoming release of the new Animal Crossing and Legend of Zelda games. You need not be an expert-level gamer either, as children and adults of all ages will enjoy playing together.
Get the Nintendo Switch from Amazon for $298.99
7. For the host: Crate & Barrel Wood Serving Board
From intimate dinner parties to Friendsgivings, the holiday season is a time when guests come from far and wide to break bread and toast glasses. If you want to give the host or hostess in your life a practical gift they'll use time and time again, look no further than this serving board from Crate & Barrel. Made with acacia wood and featuring a removable slate panel a well as two ceramic bowls, it's perfect to facilitate passing all different types of foods, from bagels and lox, to challah bread and more this Hanukkah. If you want to splurge a little more, we also love these Lustered Wine Glasses from Anthropologie, which will make a beautiful addition to the table this year.
Get the Slate and Wood Serving Board with Bowls from Crate & Barrel for $34.95
8. For mom: A Kindle Paperwhite
If you want to give mom a gift that keeps on giving this Hanukkah, why not treat her to the Kindle Paperwhite, so she can catch up on her reading in style. This best-selling e-reader is the best Kindle we've ever tested, as it's lightweight, can store thousands of books, and can last for weeks from a single charge. Not to mention the fact that it's waterproof, meaning mom can take it into the bath with her and luxuriously soak while catching up on Reese Witherspoon's book club recommendations.
Get the Kindle Paperwhite from Amazon for $129.99
9. For dad: A Roku Ultra
Almost every dad has a show they love to binge, whether it's a comedy like Curb Your Enthusiam or something with more fighting and explosions like Game of Thrones. This Hanukkah, you can help pops catch up on his favorite shows and cut the cable bill from his expenses by buying a fancy new Roku Ultra for him instead, which is our absolute favorite streaming device on the market. It can easily stream content from all your favorite TV channels in pristine quality without lagging, plus it comes with nifty features like a headphone jack and a remote sound locator.
Get the Roku Ultra from Amazon for $81.99
10. For the group photographer: Fujifilm Instax Mini 9
An extra special way to make some memories this Hanukkah is by gifting an instant camera to that loved one who loves to snap pics, which is more often than not the kids or teens in your family. We recommend the Fujifilm Instax Mini 9 as our "best value" choice for an instant camera because it's easy to use and comes with a macro lens adapter for more zoomed in photos, plus its fun colors and affordable price point make it an excellent gift option that's sure to please.
Get the Fujifilm Instax Mini 9 from Amazon for $54.59
11. For the one who loves aromatherapy: InnoGear Essential Oil Diffuser
Everyone loves a great-smelling home, which is why an essential oil diffuser is a safe, all-around gift, especially for those who you're not well-acquainted with—like a teacher or neighbor. You can also include a pack of essential oils, which comes with both energy-boosting daytime scents like lemongrass, and calming ones like lavender that are relaxing before bed. If you want to get our top choice for enjoying essential oils while not spending too much on a gift, go for the InnoGear aromatherapy diffuser, which we loved for its large water reservoir, different mist modes, and built-in light options. If you want to include a little something extra, one of the most popular candle brands, Homesick, makes festive tongue-in-cheek candles called Hanukkah and Jewish Christmas that would make great smaller gifts.
Get the InnoGear Aromatherapy Diffuser from Amazon for $11.46
12. For the baker: KitchenAid Stand Mixer
From mixing dough for kreplach to whipping up a batter for mouth-watering rugelach, the best stand mixer we've ever tested will be the perfect assistant to any home chef this Hanukkah. This iconic kitchen accessory deserves a spot atop every countertop, so if you know of any amateur bakers in your life who don't own one already, they'd likely be thrilled to receive this as their big ticket, final day of Hanukkah gift.
Get the KitchenAid stand mixer from Amazon for $279
13. For the audiophile: The Sony WH-1000XM3 noise-canceling headphones
We all know at least one person who always seems to have their headphones in no matter where they are—on the street, on the bus, or simply lounging at home. If they're still using a pair of old, wired earbuds, why not upgrade their pair this Hanukkah to our favorite noise cancelling headphones. The Sony WH-1000XM3 headphones let you tune out the entire world and just focus on whatever you're listening to via their top-of-the-line noise-cancellation technology that adapts to your surroundings, so they're an ideal gift for those who just can't get enough of their Spotify playlists.
Get the Sony WH-1000XM3 Headphones from Amazon for $278
14. For the board game fanatic: Cards Against Humanity
The holidays are the best time to unwind with family and friends over a lively game night. Easily one of the most popular party games, and most entertaining to boot, is Cards Against Humanity. It's a hilarious and not too expensive gift, and if you want to make it more personalized you can choose from tons of expansion packs. For a Hanukkah-themed version, make sure to buy the Jewish pack too alongside the main deck, which is sure to stir up even more laughs.
Get Cards Against Humanity from Amazon for $25
15. For the one who's always cold: The Gravity Blanket
Hanukkah coincides with the winter for most, which is a time to cozy up with blankets, Netflix, and a cup of something warm. While you could go the ugly sweater route to keep your loved ones warm this Hanukkah, why not surprise them instead with something they'll actually get some use out of, like our favorite weighted blanket of all time, The Gravity Blanket. This blanket is somewhat of a viral sensation because it basically feels like a giant hug when you're underneath it. Who wouldn't want that this Hanukkah?
Get the Gravity Blanket from Amazon for $199
16. For the newlyweds: Instant Pot Ultra
With the holidays upon us, it means wedding season has just about come to a close. For the newlyweds in your life, give them the gift of quick and delicious meals with the Instant Pot Ultra, which outperformed all other models as our favorite pressure cooker money can buy. We liked the 6-Qt Ultra the best for its easy-to-read display, and intuitive dial that lets you control your cooking times and pressures and scroll through the 16 preset cooking functions with ease. It'll make it way easier for the new couple to meal prep their weekly lunches or have dinner ready right when they get home from work. As an additional gift, pair it with Jerusalem: A Cookbook for some yummy meal inspiration.
Get the Instant Pot Ultra from Amazon for $84.99
17. For the one who just moved: Eufy Robovac 11S
The autumn months, beginning with September, are a very popular move-in time for many folks. In between buying furniture and decor for their apartments, they probably don't have much time to keep their home spiffy clean. That's why our favorite affordable vacuum will make such a great gift this Hanukkah. It has incredibly powerful suction and impressive navigation, yet it won't cost you your whole paycheck to gift it.
Get the Eufy RoboVac 11S from Amazon for $159.99
18. For the one always on the go: Zojirushi Stainless Steel Mug
For some people, it always seems like no matter how hard they try, they're always rushing out the door, trying not be late. You know the type. While you can't give them the gift of time this Hanukkah, you can make their daily routine a little easier with a travel mug, so they can enjoy their favorite hot beverages on the go. This one by Zojirushi is the best we've ever tested as it retains temperature for an impressively long time, can hold up to 16 ounces of liquid, and yet it's still the perfect size to toss into a cup holder or backpack.
Get the Zojirushi Stainless Steel Mug from Amazon for $25.89
19. For the dog owner: K9 Sports Sack
Holidays aren't just for getting the people you love some thoughtful gifts, but your pets too! While you can get them something silly for Hanukkah like this Dreidel Dog Toy, what all dogs (and owners, too!) really want is to be with each other wherever they go. That's what makes the K9 Sports Sack such a thoughtful gift for dog moms and dads. It allows your pup to tag along on your back, no matter where your adventure takes you. It comes in multiple shapes, sizes, and colors too, so you can choose the best fit for your loved one's pup.
Get the K9 Sport Sack from Amazon for $69.95
20. For the makeup lover: Urban Decay Naked3 Palette
Any makeup lover will definitely appreciate receiving this cult-favorite eyeshadow palette from Urban Decay. The Naked series of palettes is known far and wide in the beauty community for the ultra blendable, long-lasting neutral shades it features—varying from pink shimmers to smokey mattes that are sure to help create some bold eye looks around the holidays.
Get the Urban Decay Naked3 Palette from Sephora for $54
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This article originally appeared on Reviewed.com: Best Hanukkah gifts of 2019: 20 gifts for the eight nights of Hanukkah
