I enjoyed reading Camille Mancuso’s Chatterbox column (No ribbons required, Dec. 14) about her giving her family experiences instead of material gifts.
Often gifting during the holidays is a time to give items that are needed, like winter clothes, consumables, and household items. But for others it ends up being a lot more stuff.
I thought I would share our family tradition, which started when our kids were small.
We are a ‘mixed’ family so we light the Hanukkah candles and also celebrate Christmas.
On Christmas morning everyone would wake up to stockings filled with mandarins and chocolate and, under the tree, a wrapped toy (and other gifts from grandparents, etc).
Seven of the eight nights of Hanukkah were small gifts of socks, books, puzzles, tickets for a movie or ice skating, etc.
By far the biggest Hanukkah/Christmas present each year was money we gave each kid to give to a charity of their choice. They really looked forward to this as we would discuss lots of worthy organizations that could use their donation.
Now our kids are married with children and each looks forward to this gift. It has cultivated an atmosphere of giving far beyond the holiday season.
Lisa Manheim, Bucks County
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