How soon and for how long do you leave Hanukkah decor out?
I put my decorations on the theme of winter right after Thanksgiving Hanukkah (USA) and take everything down after the New Year or perhaps longer. My child is preschool and loves the party.
What are the deadlines for YOUR Hanukkah decorations and decorating how are you?
How much of your design is not strictly hanukkah theme (pine branches / swags / wreaths, snowmen, snowflakes, cut cookies)?
I'm With You! children as decorations and they are in place for the company ...
for years I used blue stuff and silver strings of Beeds of New Orleans along W / Jewish theme as dreidal, Menorah & Star strings of lights and ornaments menorah, Star & dreidal suspended from ropes more Beeds of ...
Oh, some years i have a papyrus plant from Home Depot to use as a tree "Hanukkah" ...
when children were younger and made plans winter school who would also be suspended, but I never went out of my way to buy snowmen, snowflakes, etc. ..also, like the poster above, we have Jewish Theme Cookie Cutters & used them ... We also have several dreidals out & Ready, as well as lighting the menorah IIN window every night ...
as far as gifts when the children were smaller than we had them almost every night, but set aside 1 night as a "non-gift" at night and 1 night as "a gift to charity" night children received no gifts, but we would talk about our charitable contribution we have made ... gifts are kept under the tree or Hanukah in a special area of the chimney.CANDLES before the kid's gifts for the evening would be hidden - after CANDLES - like a game - when they look at their donations we play "hot and cold" as they move closer or farther away ....
during an evening convenient during the week i make a great dinner special sitting Latke and children can invite any person ...
I put the menorah in a special decorative box and leave it there (but the viewable area) for a week or two before Chanukah.We are a small ceremony of preparing its place by the window, and organizing supplies (matches and candles), near the place. the moment we leave the menorah in the box is a special moment. the family gathers around the menorah during those few minutes each night of Hanukkah, place the candles and singing the prayer as we light them. by their light the children every single donation small open (sometimes by hand, sometimes funny, always simple and inexpensive) for each night of Hanukkah.
Once the gift is completely separate from any other holiday, Yule, Solstice, or exchange of Christmas gifts which may happen, as our family is open to all sorts of holiday joy and generosity (our tree symbols of the spiritual world entirely on her, and fairies and angels dance together, etc.)
The idea of cultural literacy, universal love and respect and honor our special Jewish ancestors. (and fun), tell the story of the first night and most often play the top game last night. many latkes (recipe grandmother!) were made for the occasion.
We have many bright blue stars and silver David surroundings - which remain in place months twoish with other things (all that work to be just down right after the holidays?:) But the menorah itself even back in his special box (left a bit longer) to sort of seal the holidays and make it special. I generally begin the process Takedown (with the ceremony opportunities) around the house in the middle of January. we like to enjoy all this and enjoy the glow of this special time of year.
