Like many of history’s most ingenious ideas, this one began with a desperate hunt for a unique holiday gift. Yael Hashavit, the cultural consul for North America, and her enterprising husband spared no effort: she scoured the streets of New York, while he searched online. Their quest led them to a discovery that surprised even seasoned Jewish foodies who thought they’d seen it all: Hanukkah-themed M&M’s. Yes, they exist.
The buzz about dreidels and menorahs printed on the beloved candies started circulating among insiders about two years ago. But this year, it’s gaining momentum thanks to a rare calendar coincidence that happens only about five times a century—Hanukkah overlapping with Christmas. Add Kwanzaa, the Afro-American holiday celebrated in the U.S. and Canada, to the mix, and you’ve got a shopping frenzy that Mars, M&M’s parent company, is more than happy to satisfy.
While personalized messages can be printed on M&M’s year-round at flagship stores, the Hanukkah edition—featuring dreidels, menorahs, “Happy Hanukkah” inscriptions, and Stars of David—is a step up, promising enough festive flair to last eight nights and beyond.
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As expected, the price isn’t cheap. A 12.6-ounce (360-gram) bag goes for $30 (around 110 shekels), excluding extras like decorative packaging, shipping, or taxes. A larger 2-pound (900-gram) bag costs $60 (220 shekels), while pre-designed holiday-themed packages are available for $39 (143 shekels) on Amazon and the official M&M’s store. For those feeling extra generous—enough to treat an office or even a whole neighborhood—there’s a massive 10-pound (4.5-kilogram) package for $275 (just over 1,000 shekels). Welcome to America.
And yes, it’s all certified kosher dairy.
When we reached out to Mars for a comment on this special edition, we were met with radio silence—not due to any trade secret, but more likely because even billion-dollar companies seem to take holiday breaks.
Mars isn’t the only brand catering to the Jewish community for special occasions. Coca-Cola, for instance, releases special yellow-capped bottles every Passover to indicate the beverage is made with real sugar—kosher for Passover—rather than corn syrup.