by
Phyllis Cambria
exclusively for
PartyPlansPlus.com
The
ideas listed here range in complexity to suit many personal preferences and
requirements. They are meant to inspire you and guide you as you plan your
holiday festivities. Use these ideas
to create a new celebration or incorporate some of the ideas into your own
traditions.
Wrap your invitation in an Israeli
flag and insert in a padded envelope or mailing tube. | |
Have your child draw a menorah and glue a small
shamash to the center of the menorah. Pen your invitation wording on the
drawing or card. You also could
create the same type of effect with clip art and a computer greeting card
program. | |
To add a new "spin" to your party, write
your invitation on an inflatable
dreidel. Then deflate and mail in a padded envelope. | |
Write your invitation on card stock and attach a
small, plastic
dreidel with ribbon to your invitation. Mail in a cushioned envelope or
small box. | |
Want a more traditional approach? Choose these
lovely Star of David pre-printed
invitation design. |
Welcome your guest to your home with a Hanukkah
banner on your front door or greet them with a customized
Hanukkah banner. | |
Create a Star of David by criss-crossing long
lengths of ribbon across your table to create the design. | |
Gather the family to create a garland using letters
of the alphabet to spell out Hanukkah in all its many variations:
Chanukah, Channukah, Hanukah, Hanukkah or Xanuka.
Separate each word with a dreidel, menorrah, or Star of David
cut-outs. | |
Teach children to make their own dreidel with a
small, decorated box (a recycled pint milk carton will do) and a sharpened
pencil or chopstick poked through so they can spin the top. | |
Let the children play with plastic
dreidels for gelt, an inflatable
dreidel or a colorful
Hanukkah mug with a plush bear. | |
Write each guest's Hebrew name and given name on
their place card. Or spell out
each guest's name using the Hebrew alphabet. | |
Let the children decorate blue paper goody bags
with silver
Star of David drawings or stickers.
The bags can be used to hold sweet treats, party favors or leftovers
you send home with your guests. | |
Drape your ceiling space with beautiful, metallic
Stars of David. | |
What would your celebration be without music?
Choose from traditional
holiday sing-along songs to festival party music that includes an printable
dreidel kit to more traditional,
religious Jewish songs to a CD filled with songs that are perfect for Passover
to Rosh Hashanah. | |
A Hanukkah
bear would add charm, whimsy and wonder to your table's design. |
Encourage children to make a drawing of their own
menorah to keep in their room. Each
night as the prayers are being said, they can color the flame on that
evening's candle. | |
Allow adults and children alike to recite the
prayer and light the menorah, each taking a turn. | |
Let children create a menorah using alphabet blocks
to spell out C-H-A-N-N-U-K-A-H. Glue
small, metal nuts to the blocks to hold your candles. | |
Give each guest a lit candle to help light the Shamash
(center candle of the menorah which is then used to light the other candles
on the menorah). |
Dedicate each night's light to a family member or
friend. In addition to saying
the traditional prayers, ask each guest present to share with that person
why they are so special to them. | |
Each night celebrate a different life-affirming
principle: knowledge, charity,
family, freedom, friendship, peace, equality and religion.
Buy a book, help a friend, read a prayer -- instill in your children
and rededicate to yourself the importance of appreciating the true gifts of
life. | |
Invite a non-Jewish friend to join you and your
family to share in the festivities and learn more about the customs of your
religion. | |
Make a little more noise as you dance the hora with blue tinsel maracas or small white tambourines. | |
Have each guest write a letter to someone who is serving overseas in the armed services to thank him or her for their efforts. Contact your local chapter of the American Red Cross for information on writing to a serviceman or woman. To find a local chapter, go to: http://www.redcross.org or look in your Yellow Pages. |
Complete Hannukah table ware collection.
Theme your dinner to a specific locale: | |
Add charm and whimsy to your table with an adorable
dreidel candle. | |
Cover your table with a beautiful Judaic
cloth in easy-care vinyl. | |
Collect recipes from guests (relatives and friends)
to serve at your dinner. Put
together a printed menu or place cards naming those dishes after the
contributors. Make copies of all
the recipes along with photos of the donors. Send these recipes to all of
your guests as a memento so they can enjoy any of these dishes at home. | |
Assign each of your young guests with the task of
learning a part of the Festival of Lights story which you have given to him
or her. With each course, ask a
child to recite their portion of the story. | |
Be a guest at your own party by using sturdy,
decorative but disposable paper products. The Happy
Hanukkah design is colorful, whimsical and will add a bright delight to
your table. The traditional blue and white Star
of David design adds a more subdued but decorative tone. The colorful Judaic
design is perfect not only for Hanukkah but can be used for all of your
special religious occasions. Or, add a touch of elegance with a lace
plastic table overlay that let's your table design shine through. | |
This Star
of David bandana not only makes a great gift but works well as a
reusable napkin too. | |
Take an instant photo of each guest and place it
into a plain white
Easel Back cardstock frame. While
waiting for dinner to start, have the children frame the faces with Stars of
David made from pipe cleaners and glue. Use these as place cards. |
Use a camcorder or tape recorder and interview your
guests while there discussing this gathering and other treasured Hanukkah
memories. Be sure to get elder
family members on tape and ask how they celebrated Hanukkah in their youth.
These will entertain the guests present hearing the stories while
they're being recorded and future generations to come. | |
Get a camera with a timer to take a group shot each
year of the entire clan. Send
copies to your guests, even those family members unable to attend the
celebration. Exhibit the group photo collections in decorative frames around
the party site or in archival photo albums at future celebrations. | |
Teach the children about the spirit of giving.
Ask them to select one of their gifts and take them to an orphanage
or homeless shelter where they can give the gift to another child. |
Hannukah gift that are personal!!
Allow guests to show their loyalty with this
attractive LED
pin designed to look like the Israeli flag. | |
Let guests fly their colors with pride by giving
them each a small Israeli
flag bandana. | |
Whether used to dance the hora or to wave as they
sing along, your guests will love receiving a
miniature Israeli flag. | |
Whether as a gift to your guests or a hostess present to take to a party you're attending, this Kosher gift basket will be a welcome and thoughtful present. |
Send a Greeting Cake to your favorite Hannukah Honies...More delicious than a Greeting Card. Only $5.00 each and the recipient can bake it, frost it and eat it (enough to share) for a wonderful experience.
Special Festival of Lights Page
©All rights reserved, 2002, 2003,2004 Phyllis Cambria