I’m Jewish. There weren’t many gifts when I was very little. My mom says they did the eight day gift thing a couple of years, but some days it was just candy or something very inexpensive. Just something to open. I don’t remember getting a gift every night at all. That isn’t really what is done on Chanukah, it’s just what developed to compete with Christmas.
My parents hadn’t bought the gift for each night, it was their gifts and other relatives. As I got older we were given money, which is actually more of the tradition of Chanukah.
I don’t know how old your kids are, but the “magic” of Santa is part of the deal for young kids, and I think just one gift magically appearing is thrilling for them.
Also, as an adult I don’t go through the disappointment and blues I hear so many adults talk about during Christmas, because I don’t have an outlandish expectation of what the holidays are supposed to be. I never feel like I need to go into hock, because society decided gifts should be given on certain days.
And, what about Jesus? I don’t know if you are religious, but why is the commercialism of Christmas more important than the reason for the holiday? I’m not assuming anything about you in particular when it comes to the holiday or your religious beliefs, I’m only saying the holidays, holy days, are there in my opinion representing our religion, our people, tradition, and a time to reflect. That’s how I look at it anyway.
Are your gifts Santa gifts or you give them directly to the kids?