Growing up in Southern California then working in Hollywood, made having friends who went to temple almost as common as those who went to mass. When I moved to Austin however, I was surprised not only by the fact that there were so few Jewish people but also, by the lack of awareness about holidays like Hanukkah. I was thrilled years ago though when my youngest son came home from a Mother’s Day Out program with a paint stirrer Menorah that he’d made in class. He loved it and the tiny dreidel he received on the same day (both thanks to a fellow student’s mother) so much! I thought it was such a cool (yet really inexpensive) way to teach children about a tradition that may not be their own or if it is, then to celebrate it even further.
This week on I Love to Create, I revive that pre-school project–my version of course, with a little added, razzle dazzle.
Here’s how you and your kidlets can make a Hardware Store Menorah this Hanukkah season!
Materials
Wooden Paint Stirrer
11 Nuts (Sized to fit candles)
9 Candles (I just used the cheapie, birthday type.)
Before 2nd coat dries, cover top of stirrer with glitter. Once dried, shake excess glitter off.
Adhere nuts to stirrer with Tacky Glue so that there’s a center pyramid stack with 4 individuals on each side. Let dry.
Insert candles in each of the nuts. If necessary, add a dab of Tacky Glue to the bottom of all candles EXCEPT for the center one; that one’s used for lighting.
The Basics of Practicing the Festival of Lights
Each of the 8 side candles represents a day of Hanukkah; the center candle is called, the “Shamos”. After sunset of each night of Hanukkah, use the Shamos to light the candles (lighting an additional one as each day passes.)
This year Hanukkah begins at sundown on December 11th. To read more about the symbolism and traditions surrounding the Menorah, check out this website.
When I came across this Knitting Needle Patent greeting card by @patentpress , I couldn’t resist selecting it as one of the items for the YarnYAY! September box! (Link in @vickiehowell bio or got to YarnYAY.com)
What looks like part circular knitting needle, part Tunisian crochet hook is illustrated as the patent drawing for flexible knitting needles. This greeting card memorializes the creation of tools that we stitchers can now, not do without!...
The sample yarn for both palettes of this year’s 12 Days of YAY! Advent Box have arrived. I cannot wait for stitchers to open up a new color everyday!
I don’t want to spoil the shade surprises, but I can share just how much yarn we’re sending you this year — FIFTEEN mini hanks of beautifully hand dyed yarn, by two rad boss-lady dyers.
Historically, we have sold out of these so I’d you’re prone to FOMO, be sure to pre-order tour 12 Days of YAY!
Nineteen years into this knitting career, it’s crazy-pants that I’ve never had Learn to Knit or Learn to Crochet kits before. So, I finally made it happen. If you know someone, or ARE someone that wants to learn — while also making something wearable— check out our new hats and scarves kits in the YarnYAY! Shop!
Very butch 😉
What a great little menorah craft! Thanks for remembering us Jewish folk!
Hi, 44 candles are needed, starting with 2 the first night and increasing by one each night until 9 on the 8th night. thanks for the project.
Simply fabulous and super clever! Love it.
Cheers,
Madge