I used to teach my children about Chanukah gelt. I'd tell them that there used to be no Chanukah presents, just Chanukah gelt. The only ones who recevied gelt -- money -- were students and teachers.
Theses days, it seems that most kids get gelt. Actually, the older the kids get, all they want is gelt. They simply want money to buy the things they like.
No more suprises. No more even telling mom and dad what they want and acting happy or surpised when they open the package on one of the nights of Chaukah and finding that desire fulfilled. Just gelt.
Inerestingly enough, however, my daughter complained that she really didn't want anything but gelt -- she just wanted to shop -- but Chanukah just wasn't the same without a few surprise gifts and at least some packages to open, even if she knew what might be in them. "It sucks to get older," she commented.
So, I packed up a box with small gifts and surprises, one for each night, and the gelt. She's a college student after all.
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