Décor + Dining Tips To Celebrate Hanukkah + Christmas Together

This year’s rare overlap of Hanukkah and Christmas offers a wonderful opportunity to blend the festive elements of both holidays, creating a harmonious celebration with decor and dinner that reflects the spirit of each. Here are some ideas to create a warm, inclusive, and beautiful celebration:

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Decor

1. Blue, White, and Silver Palette with Touches of Green and Red
   Start with Hanukkah’s traditional colors—blue, white, and silver—and incorporate Christmas elements in green and red. Decorate with silver menorahs and dreidels alongside evergreen wreaths, candles, and poinsettias for a seamless blend of both holidays.
2. Holiday Lights
   String up fairy lights or LED lights in both blue and white around the space for a festive Hanukkah glow. Consider adding warm, soft white or colorful Christmas lights for an extra cozy effect. Lights are a joyful symbol that beautifully complements both traditions.
3. Dreidel Ornaments and Stars
   Hang ornaments that incorporate dreidels, Stars of David, and menorah motifs. Mix them with classic Christmas icons like stars and snowflakes in coordinating colors. This approach highlights each holiday’s essence while creating visual unity.
4. Hanukkah and Christmas Table Setting
   Combine silver and blue menorah candles with Christmas table settings in complementary shades. Place Christmas-themed napkins alongside Hanukkah gelt (chocolate coins), or use gelt as part of each place setting for a touch of holiday spirit.
5. Seasonal Centerpiece
   Create a centerpiece with a mix of symbols—like blue and white candles, greenery, and silver dreidels interwoven with small ornaments or pinecones. You can even add a menorah surrounded by evergreen sprigs to tie everything together.

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Dinner Menu

1. Appetizers: Potato Latkes with Holiday Toppings
   Latkes are a Hanukkah staple that can be transformed with festive toppings to honor both holidays. Serve them with applesauce, sour cream, smoked salmon, or even a holiday-inspired cranberry chutney.
2. Main Course: Brisket with Christmas Herbs and Spices
   Serve traditional Jewish brisket but add a Christmas twist by incorporating rosemary, thyme, and cloves for a warm, aromatic flavor. Alternatively, roast a holiday turkey seasoned with traditional spices for a nod to Christmas dinner.
3. Side Dishes: Holiday Fusion Kugel and Seasonal Vegetables
   A sweet noodle kugel infused with festive spices like cinnamon and nutmeg is a beautiful blend of traditions. Round it out with seasonal vegetable sides, such as roasted Brussels sprouts or a pomegranate and arugula salad for a colorful touch.
4. Dessert: Gingerbread Sufganiyot (Jelly Donuts)
   Infuse traditional Hanukkah sufganiyot with gingerbread spices—like cinnamon, ginger, and cloves—for a delicious holiday fusion. Alternatively, bake rugelach filled with holiday-inspired flavors like cranberry and orange or chocolate peppermint.
5. Beverages: Mulled Wine and Hot Cocoa with a Hanukkah Twist
   Serve mulled wine or spiced cider, a Christmas favorite, alongside hot cocoa with a blue and white twist (think marshmallows or edible glitter). You can also add a bit of Hanukkah spirit by serving blue sugar-rimmed glasses or cocoa with marshmallows shaped like dreidels and menorahs.

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Interactive Touches

• Holiday Blessings: Read or recite a blessing or prayer that honors both traditions, celebrating family, love, and light. It’s a meaningful way to set the tone for a joyful gathering.
• Holiday Games: Set up a table with dreidels, gelt, and a simple guide for playing dreidel. Pair it with Christmas crackers or small gift bags as take-home treats for everyone to enjoy.

By creatively blending elements of Hanukkah and Christmas, you can create a meaningful and visually stunning holiday celebration that celebrates the best of both worlds.