Hanukkah, which occurs in late November or early December depending on the year, is a celebration of the rededication of the Jerusalem temple as well as the wonder of one day’s worth of oil lasting eight days.
We’ve come up with several ways to light up your festival of lights, whether you’re a new parent just starting to celebrate with your family or you’re an experienced parent looking for some new ideas.
Are you looking for exciting activities to get your kids to celebrate the Festival of Lights? All eight Hanukkah nights will be filled with entertainment thanks to these DIY activities and recipes.
DIY Dreidels
Add your unique touch to these adorable dreidel ornaments! Every night, one should be opened to show a unique family activity.
You will need a dreidel template, tape, ribbon, scissors, pencil, paper, black marker, and wood craft stick.
Start by printing the dreidel pattern, cutting it out, and then tracing it onto eight different colored pieces of cardstock. Using the instructions on the template, assemble (you’ll need tape, a wood craft stick, and a black marker).
Have each child write a suggestion for a family activity on a slip of paper (don’t peek!) and put it into a dreidel before sealing it. Then, add your unexpected thoughts to the remaining ones. Lastly tie a ribbon around it.
Sand art candles and menorah
Your kids can make this DIY menorah using their favorite colors, which they can securely keep in their room for years to come.
Small glass jars, one large glass jar, a funnel, colored sand, scissors, silver straws, and yellow grosgrain ribbon are what they can use to make it.
To make the sand art, gather eight small glass jars and one bigger jar (you can use spice jars). Pour colored sand into the jars, one color at a time, using a funnel. Switch the colors and the amount of each. Tilt the jar as you pour to create a slanted layer; tap the jar after pouring to create a flat layer.
To Make the Candles: Cut nine silver straws to the proper height; around 4 inches. Cut nine pieces of yellow grosgrain ribbon, ½ inch wide by 3 inches long. Tie a knot in the center of each, insert it into the straw, and cut the ends. Press the straw candle carefully into the sand when you’re ready to “light” your menorah.
When storing, take out the candles, stuff with cotton balls, and tighten the tops. Store them while upright.
Baking cookies
With these cheerful sweet cookies, you may mark down the eight nights of Hanukkah.
What you will need; Manischewitz Ready to Decorate Pre-Baked Sugar Cookie Kit. The best part about this kit is that it comes with all the decorative accompaniments plus ready-made cookies.
For more than a century, Manischewitz has led the way in kosher culinary choices. With a variety of adorable cookie packages, they are reviving the Hanukkah sugar cookie tradition as America’s leading brand in gourmet kosher products.
Manischewitz Sugar Cookie Kit with Ugly Sweater Chanukah Theme. For just $8.99, this package includes piping bags, a distinctive sweater cookie cutter, sugar cookie mix, color powders, and sprinkle mix, all of which combine comedy, tradition, and flavor.
For individuals who prioritize ease of use without sacrificing enjoyment, the Manischewitz Ready to Decorate Pre-Baked Sugar Cookie Kit is an absolute must. For $9.99, you will get 12 festive-shaped sugar cookies together with all the essential ornamental accompaniments to make for a unique and unforgettable Hanukkah celebration. The classic Manischewitz Donut Making Kit and the elaborate Manischewitz Chanukah House Cookie Kit complete the festive lineup.
Making potato latkes
It wouldn’t be Hanukah with no potato latkes. The Manischewitz Potato Pancake Mix provides is your hassle-free pathway to mouthwatering latkes.
Try this Perfect Potato Latke Recipe:
Ingredients:
- A box of Manischewitz Potato Pancake Mix
- 2 eggs
- Kosher salt
- 1 cup of cold water
- 2 tbsp. canola oil
Instructions
- In a large bowl, mix the potato pancakes mix, eggs, and water. Let it rest for 2 minutes.
- Heat the oil in a large non-stick frying pan or heavy skillet over medium-high heat.
- Drop the potato pancake batter into the frying pan using an ice cream scoop or large spoon. Ensure the potato latkes are not touching each other.
- Cook the potato pancakes on one side for 3 minutes (or until golden brown), then carefully flip with the spatula and cook on the other side for 3 minutes (or until golden brown).
- Remove the potato pancakes from the frying pan and serve immediately.
- Serve with apple sauce, Manischewitz Apple Butter, or Manischewitz Honey
Making Hanukah greeting cards
Use this homemade greeting card to make your friends and family’s days happier as you celebrate the Festival of Lights.
White paper, magazines, leftover wrapping paper, glue, and scissors are everything you’ll need.
What to Do: Help your children glue a nine-candle menorah on white cardboard by cutting out leftover bits of wrapping paper or recycled magazine scraps. After folding the paper in half, decorate the tops of the candles with yellow flames. Give it as a Hanukkah greeting card to your loved ones and write a nice note inside.
Marshmallow Dreidels
You can easily make with your kids this small sweet chocolate surprise – edible marshmallow Dreidels
What You’ll need: Large marshmallows, stick pretzels, chocolate candy kisses, Nutella hazelnut spread, and cake decorating gel.
How to Proceed: Insert a pretzel into the marshmallow’s flat side. To connect the kiss to the marshmallow’s flat end, use Nutella as “glue”. Next, use blue cake decorating gel to pipe one of the four Hebrew dreidel letters onto the marshmallow’s surface. Allow it to cure for a few hours.
Apple mash
Serve your homemade chunky apple “smash” alongside your potato latkes.
Four bite-sized Golden Delicious apples (peeled, cored, and sliced), 1/2 cup apple juice, a cinnamon stick, and 1 teaspoon each of powdered nutmeg and cinnamon.
How to make it: Fill a medium pot with the first four ingredients. Cook for ten minutes on medium heat. Take off the heat source and let it cool for ten minutes. Using a potato masher to mash. After that, transfer to serving dishes and top with ground cinnamon. This can make up to six servings.
