How to make a Chanukah Gift Calendar
One Present for Each of the Eight Days of Chanukah
Dec 21, 2008
Chanukah, the festival of lights, is spelled many ways: Hannukah, Hanukah, Chanuka, Chanukkah, Channukah are some of the more common versions. Among the many interpretations of the Hebrew word are “consecration” or “dedication” – referring to the story behind the ritual of lighting the Menorah.
A Very Brief History of Chanukah
A nine branched candlestick called a Menorah is lit to commemorate the possibility of miracles: The origin of the festival is a biblical story about the Maccabees, who re-opened their Temple after defeating the armies of Antiochus, only find enough ritual oil to light the Menorah for one day. However, it burned for eight days – enough time to press and consecrate new holy oil for the Temple.
A Less Commercial Holiday
Since Chanukah lands roughly around Christmas-time, many Jewish families compete with their Christian peers in buying presents, and the focus on holiday may be less about spirituality than about chocolate coins, playing with dreidels and eating sweets. Many modern children may feel that Chanukah is in competition with Christmas, though it is not originally intended as a gift-giving holiday.
In response to children complaining that their non-Jewish friends have advent calendars, some households have adopted Menorah gift calendars, which reveal a present for each of the eight days of the holiday. For those who want to bring a more personal touch to Chanukah, making a sugar-free, Chanukah Calendar may be a solution.
Make a Personalized Chanukah Calendar
An added advantage to making a non-commercial calendar would be the chance to spend time with your family, making a craft that will become a family heirloom. Use their input in choosing colour, where to hang it, and what it should look like. This calendar doesn’t use dates, just the numbers from one to eight, and it can look any way you want it to. You will need the following items:
- A wide length of cloth – preferably one colour in cotton or a non-shiny material that is easy to glue fabric to.
- A dowel rod that is one inch longer than the length of your background cloth.
- Eight squares of cloth, roughly five inches by five inches each. They can be in different colours from each other, or come from the same bolt of cloth – whatever you feel looks best. You get extra frugal points if you find a bolt of cloth you like in a second hand store, as a bed sheet, tablecloth or blanket.
- Velcro strips or circles
- For the main design, you can draw a Menorah, or easier still, cut out nine long rectangles to represent the eight candles and the one Shamash candle. The flames can be tear-shaped yellow felt: If you’re feeling especially ambitious, each of the candles’ wicks can be made of Velcro, and the flames can be added on for each day of Chanukah.
- At the base of each candle on your Menorah, leave six inches of space between each candle: This will be where you place the square gift boxes. Under every candle, use the adhesive Velcro strips or dots to mark down where you would like to place the panel: stick the other piece on the fabric and you have an instant pouch to fill with a small toy or treat.
- For hanging the Menorah gift panel, glue a strip along the width of the upper panel, about one inch from the top. Glue the dowel rod in place, and hang when the glue is dry.
Fill your gift boxes with treats like organic chocolate, non-GMO dried fruit, or fair trade toys. Another option is to fill each panel with an activity the child will enjoy, like playing a favourite board game, or a day trip to special location.
 |
