Hanukkah is almost here, and you know what that means: good food, festive gatherings with family and friends … and eight days of presents! PETA's animal-friendly gift ideas will keep you going for all eight days of Hanukkah celebrations:

• Guilt-Free Gelt: The holidays will be much sweeter with dark-chocolate vegan gelt from Pangea Vegan Products. For more sophisticated tastes, try Harbor Candy Shop's festive sampler box of decadent and divine gourmet vegan chocolates.

• I Have a Little Dreidel: I made it out of … marshmallows? Sweet & Sara's chocolate-dipped vegan marshmallows in three festive shapes—the Star of David, a dreidel, and a menorah—will have everyone singing "The Dreidel Song."

• Jelly Doughnuts Redux: With 250 recipes, Isa Chandra Moskowitz and Terry Hope Romero's Veganomicon is the only cookbook that you'll ever need. Whip up a batch of their Jelly Donut Cupcakes for a modern twist on the Hanukkah potluck favorite: jelly doughnuts.

• A Scentsational Gift: Bring a smile to your sweetie's face with A Scent of Scandal's holiday-themed soy candles in tongue-in-cheek scents such as Challahback Girl (challah bread) and Hanukkah Bush (fir tree).

• Not Your Bubbe's Fur: A luxe, looks-like-the-real-thing faux-fur scarf or hat will keep your loved ones cozy and cruelty-free all winter long.

• Tee Time: From PETA's "Test Tubes, Not Bunnies" T-shirt to this clever "veggie menorah" design (featuring pea pods, carrots, and red peppers in place of candles), there are countless ways to get animal-friendly messages out there—and look great doing it!

• Gifts for Four-Legged Friends: Don't forget to wish your animal friends a happy Hanukkah, too, with PETA's cat and dog gift sets.

• Gifts for All Animal Lovers: Spread some cheer (and compassion) by choosing a "virtual gift"—such as a toy for a neglected dog or a spay or neuter surgery—at PETAPresents.org. PETA will send your recipient a beautiful e-card thanking him or her for helping animals.

For more Hanukkah gift ideas, visit PETACatalog.com.

It's the season for giving, and PETA Business Friend Allison's Gourmet is giving away a $50 gift certificate for delicious vegan treats to one lucky PETA Files reader. Could it be you?

Allison's Gourmet is one of the premier all-vegan online bakeries. Because none of Allison's cookies or confections contains animal products, the treats are 100 percent cholesterol-free and don't contribute to the cruelty to animals found in the dairy and egg industries. And I can tell you from personal experience that these are some of the most delectable desserts that you will ever eat. To enter this contest, simply complete the form below.

Can't wait to get your own box of vegan confections, or want to give one as a gift? Head on over to the Allison's Gourmet website today. And since there's no such thing as giving too many gifts, stock up on all sorts of goodies from the PETA Catalog this holiday season.

Contest entries will be accepted from December 13, 2011, through December 22, 2011. One winner will then be chosen at random from all entrants and presented with a $50 gift certificate to Allison's Gourmet. The winner will be notified by January 15, 2012. Be sure to read our privacy policy and terms and conditions, as you're agreeing to both by submitting your entry to this contest. This contest is open only to residents of the United States. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law. Good luck!

Written by Heather Faraid Drennan

Dreading fighting the crowds at the mall? Avoid the Black Friday blues with our top picks for fab cruelty-free finds for everyone on your list.

Forever 21's extensive line of bags, wallets, and luggage for women is made from faux leather, mock croc, faux fur, and fun animal prints that are perfect for trendsetters who know that real dead animal skin is as out of fashion as a 1980s paint-splashed blue-jean bag. The store has a superb line of belts, travel bags, and duffles for men too. For more cruelty-free fashion than you can shake a candy cane at, check out PETA's page at the überhip fashion site Polyvore.

Kids will love the new Fincredibles lifelike aquariums. It wouldn't be right to put fish in a tiny bowl or butterflies or fireflies in a jar, but these fool-your-friends electronic animals won't mind at all.

There's a foodie in every family, and even the most discerning taste buds won't be able to resist a gift basket filled with elegant vegan caviar, melt-in-your-mouth chocolates, and a plethora of vegan cheeses.

For the most difficult creature to buy for, the person who has everything, try a gift that everyone loves: luscious soy candles in all sizes and scents from Universol Aromas. Or, for an equally scentsational gift, opt for vegan soaps from Lush in fragrances such as Sexy Peel, Rock Star, Queen of Hearts, and Temptation. PETA also offers a guide to cruelty-free beauty products in every price range.

Everyone loves a fun day out or a night on the town, so give the gift of entertainment with tickets to professional or college sporting events, concerts, theater productions, art shows, or stand-up comedy. Check with the ticket offices at your local venues or visit Stubhub.

If you're still stumped, give a gift card! Gift cards for the PETA Catalog are available in any dollar amount, and the lucky recipient can choose clothing, accessories, books, beauty products, bags, travel bottles, and loads more while helping animals with every purchase.

Happy holidays!

We at PETA often refer to our love of vegan chocolate, but put this on record: We're also fond of vegetarian vanilla—that is, rapper Vanilla Ice, star of DIY's The Vanilla Ice Project.

"It opened up a whole new menu to me," he says about going vegetarian more than three years ago. "I love it." His choice very well may have saved his life. His dangerously high cholesterol level—more than 300!—plummeted to 133 just three months after he made the switch. There's no doubt that his decision saved countless animals.

(If you're wondering what could be nicer, we'd say vegan vanilla, of course!)

Written by Karin Bennett

There's only one rule at Vosges Chocolate's Exotic Candy Bar Library: Once you've checked out your selection, it's totally yours to keep. And with fancy vegan chocolate flavors such as Creole and Black Pearl, we have a feeling that the shelves will be empty in no time.

Want a collection of your own? We're giving away one of these edible libraries to the reader who comes up with the best animal-friendly literary mash-up. (Seriously—if Jane Austen and zombies can successfully join forces, then so can animals and literary classics!) My compassionate mash-up? To Save a Mockingbird!

Start wiggling your inner bookworm, and then enter by posting your re-imagined title in the comments section. The contest ends on March 24, 2010, and we'll pick the winner on March 26, 2010. Be sure to read our privacy policy and terms and conditions, as you're agreeing to both by commenting. Good luck!

Written by Logan Scherer

With Valentine's Day less than a month away, it's about time you started shopping to impress that special someone in your life. Lucky for you, PETA's got all the goods you'll ever need to show your love for your sweetheart, yourself (hey, there's nothing wrong with buying yourself a little something on V-Day), and animals.

1. You've got to wear something while you're celebrating with your Valentine—even if it won't stay on for long. May I suggest our "Vegans Make Great Lovers" T-Shirt (seriously, we do), and Pink Zebra Print Boxer Shorts?
2. Once you're all dressed up down, feast on some humane chocolate from Harbor Candy. We've got a Valentine's Chocolate Deluxe Box and a Valentine's Chocolate Sampler Box for anyone in your life with a sweet tooth.
3. For me, dessert is the main course on Valentine's Day, but for those of you who are sticklers for nutrition, how about a dinner to remember? Vegan restaurants across the country—such as Sublime in Fort Lauderdale, Florida—have plenty of fantastic options for couples, singles, or friends looking to celebrate love.
4. If your night winds down after dinner, warm yourself up inside and out by having a cup of your hot beverage of choice in our rosy mug and cuddling up with PETA's Snuggle Blanket.
5. For those of you looking forward to a late night, how about giving your partner a preview of things to come with our "Vegans Taste Better" Thong?

And we've got a gift for you! Enter the promotion code VDAY over at PETAcatalog.org, and you'll get $5 off a $40 purchase. The code is valid until February 14. Happy shopping!

Written by Logan Scherer

Comic Ricky Gervais roots for the bulls. Actor Marissa Lewis dreams of a world free of cages and chains. Well, one of my many "perfect world wishes" is that every day could be Valentine's Day. Not only could I indulge daily in delectable vegan chocolates like those from Harbor Candy, which happen to be this week's "Win It" Wednesday prizes …

… I also believe that people might become more loving and kinder to everyone around them, including their companion animals. All dogs would be allowed to stop and sniff on leisurely strolls instead of being yelled at and yanked along on hasty morning marches. Cats could enjoy their naps on newspapers, along with some gentle scratches from their human caretakers, instead of being shooed away. I'm confident that my wish would benefit not just my own addiction to chocolate but also the lives of countless otherwise beleaguered and bored companion animals.

So tell us, what's your "perfect world wish" for animals? If you can't narrow it down to one, enter as often as you'd like. Make us snort with laughter or choke back tears and you might win one of two boxes of Harbor Candy chocolates. We've got a deluxe box of chocolates for the grand-prize winner and a sampler box for the runner-up. If you win, feel free to share them with your sweetheart, but if you keep 'em for yourself, we won't tell.

The contest ends on February 3, 2010, and we'll pick the winners on February 5, 2010. Be sure to read our privacy policy and terms and conditions, as you're agreeing to both by commenting. Good luck!

Written by Karin Bennett

Update: You can now place your order for bin Laden Bites by clicking here. Orders will not ship until January. Proceeds from the chocolate sales will be used for our programs—such as our spay-and-neuter clinic—that help dogs.

I've heard my fair share of oxymorons, but never one as (literally) delicious and biting as this one: cruelty-free beheading.

When we heard that our troops in Afghanistan hungered for some chocolate, we jumped at the opportunity to send them some dairy-free delectable delights and even made a tastily topical design just for the occasion:

When the troops sink their teeth into our savory, vegan chocolate Bin Laden Bites, they'll satisfy their confectionary craving while getting some sweet revenge by taking a bite out of Osama's head.

Who ever thought that chocolate could be this cathartic?

Written by Logan Scherer

borders / CC

What's the only thing better than the most soyous time of year? Vegan chocolate. Every day.

This year, we've found a gift that really does keep on giving. With the Advent calendar from Amanda's Own Confections, each day of December offers a new door and a small wonder behind it: a piece of scrumptious, cruelty-free chocolate. And it culminates in the best Christmas miracle ever: a big dairy-free chocolate Santa.

You can win the sweetest calendar ever—simply post a comment with your funniest holiday greeting.

We've got two Advent calendars to give away to the commenters who make us laugh the hardest. The contest ends on November 23, 2009, and we'll pick the winner on November 25, 2009. Be sure to read our privacy policy and terms and conditions, as you're agreeing to both by commenting. Good luck!

Written by Logan Scherer

Thanks for all of your wonderful comments on this Win It Wednesday. The winner of the Chocoholic gift basket is Olivia. Congratulations!

Star light, star bright,
First star I see tonight,
I wish I may, I wish I might
Eat an entire Chocoholic Basket tonight.

Seriously, I bet I could eat this Pangea gift basket in one sitting. But it sucks to be me right now because I can't enter "Win It" Wednesday contests*. You, however, can win this chocolate-lover's dream—simply post a comment to submit your clever, funny dialogue, à la Go Fug Yourself, for the picture below:

commons.wikimedia / CC

We've got one Chocoholic Basket to give away to the author of the caption that makes us laugh the hardest. The contest ends on October 28, 2009, and we'll choose one winner on October 30, 2009. Be sure to read our privacy policy and terms and conditions, as you're agreeing to both by commenting. Good luck!

Written by Karin Bennett

*Actually, that's probably a good thing.