I have decided to revive this thread…
Chanuka Money
Question:
Why do we give ‘gelt’ (money gifts to children) on Chanukah?
AskTheRabbi.org answered:
The original custom to give “Chanuka gelt” is actually rooted in the Talmud. The Talmud states that even a very poor person must light Chanuka lights, even if he can’t afford it. A person with no money is required to go “knocking on doors” until he collects enough to buy at
least one candle for each night of Chanuka. The Torah concept of charity, tzeddaka, requires us to help the recipient in the most dignified manner possible. Therefore, the custom arose to give gifts of money during Chanuka so that someone who needs extra money for Chanuka candles can receive it in the form of “Chanuka gelt.”
There is another idea that the origin of chanukah gelt dates back to the triumphant coinage of silver minted by the Maccabees. The Maccabees were so overjoyed at their victory that they minted their own coins and gave them out on Chanukah.
Since Talmudic times the custom to give money has blossomed to become one to give presents as well. My family custom is to give presents to the younger children and Chanukah Gelt to the older ones. It seems to work very well! Of course, nowadays there is a custom to give out chocolate money to the younger children – chocolate money is a means of giving younger children a gift that they can savor immediately and yet it retained the spirit of Chanukah “gelt”.