You still have a few more weeks to get your Hanukkah cards in the mail, which means that you also have time to find the prettiest cards available. I love these handprinted Hanukkah cards ($14.50 for a set of six), with their icy blue background and abstract geometric design. They're both modern and celebratory.
Açai berries may be the latest power fruit to hit Whole Foods shelves, but that's no reason not to delight in the adorable puckered tops and bulbous shapes of last season’s trendy grocery, the pomegranate. If you’re celebrating Hanukkah this year, you can enjoy the "pom" when you pick up the Michael Aram Pomegranate Menorah ($150), a stunning bronze luminary with a leafy, branch base. You can also check out Aram's collection of other pomegranate-festooned items.
I recently came across an adorable holiday idea that I simply couldn't resist sharing with you . . .
One of the best known symbols of Hanukkah is the dreidel, a four -sided top with a Hebrew letter on each side. These letters mean "A Great Miracle Happened There." In Israel the dreidel is a bit different in that the letters mean, "A Great Miracle Happened ______."
Since this month's theme is Home Entertainment, I thought you might be interested in iVillage's list of items that are essential to throwing a good home-based party. I've excerpted part of the list below, and while I don't agree that disposable hand towels are a party essential (setting out several hand towels next to the sink is a more economical and environmental option), most of these tips are definite party musts. Since I have a party coming up this weekend — a traditional German Christmas party called a Feuerzangenbowle that my fiancé throws every year — I know that I'm going to take iVillage's advice and stock up on many of these supplies.
If you're giving a gift this month to someone who, as far as you know, may or may not celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, or Britney Spears's birthday, it's best to leave the nativity scenes, dreidels, and bad hair extensions off of your wrapping paper. Choose a paper solely wintry in theme, and avoid symbolic colors like red and green. This Paper Source Moss and Pool Retro Snowflake paper ($6.50), for example, is a good choice of secular wrapping paper.
The Unica Home "The Last Match" Menorah ($240) honors the tradition of Hanukkah (which starts tomorrow) with eight oil candles to mark the eight nights of the “festival of lights,” and one shamash, meant to light the other eight. Yet it's far from traditional. It's designed by Walteria Living, whose tag line is "Anti-Design for the Home."
Yes, the menorah might have been around since Moses. But that doesn't mean it can't be 21st century cool. I've rounded up several cool menorahs that'll make even the gentiles want to celebrate Hanukkah.