If you have checked your “American” calendar , you will have noticed that Thanksgiving and the first day of Hanukkah fall (no pun intended) on the same day this year. According to Steven Colbert, Thanksgiving is actually under attack!! But wait Steven isn’t it Hanukkah that actually must share the limelight, or wait, aren’t we just killing two birds with one stone. Sorry for the last comment, maybe that wasn’t appropriate….
Anyways… if you were wondering how to decorate your Thanksgivukkah table this year, I have a few easy and fun ideas I would like to share. These ideas are meant for the entire family, not just for Mom, so I hope the kids are following.
A fun menorah will light up the table. Here I have used miniature pumpkins, but anything would work from apples, to persimmon to miniature squash. Just use what you find in your local grocery store or market. Let a parent carve the holes for the tealights. Any colour tealights will do, just make sure your shamas is taller than the rest. I have added some fall leaves and twigs for interest. You can use any type of leaf. Ivy grows wild most everywhere, or even better get the kids to make their own leaves. The more everyone is involved, the more fun you will have.
The dreidels were made using these instructions and template http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/make-a-dreidel.
For the napkin we created turkeys made from pinecones and a folded napkin. Go to youtube or google “how to fold a turkey napkin“, you will find a tutorial there. The older kids may enjoy folding the napkins (cloth or paper), while the younger kids are creating or painting the dreidels, pinecones or leaves. If you don’t want the mess, plain pinecones are just fine; just make sure you wash and let the pinecones dry ahead of time, so you don’t find any uninvited guests at your table!!
The turkey head was made from a folded piece of card stock. Simply fold a right handed triangle to form the head and then make a second fold to create the neck. The red “wattle” which is the fleshy thing that grows under a turkey’s throat, was just a red painted teardrop cut out from paper.
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For an added bit of fun we scattered Hanukkah gelt (parve) at each placesetting. It adds just a little bit of bling, and chocolate is always a crowd pleaser. If you look closely, a special pilgrim kippa (paper buckle glued to the kippa) can be found on our table . We always enjoy adding something a little different and unexpected. Your guests will certainly remember those little touches and will remember the fun time you shared together.
I hope you have enjoyed my ideas, and see that you don’t need to spend much to make something special. Be creative, make it fun, and involve the entire family in the Thanksgivukkah preparations. You will amaze yourself that you really can create something from nothing.
Please ask any questions about everything in this post or any other table scape ideas in the comments below.
excellent idea
funny
beautiful
wow you’re busy
I’ll be putting out pumpkin place card holders with paper candles in the holders instead of name cards.
Simply stunning!!!!
My holiday table idea is to put all the deserts near where I’m sitting. :p I like putting little white pumpkins and gourds on the table.
I like to put acorns from my front yard into a hurricane and then add a white candle….simple but so cute
The pumpkin menorah is so cure!
My son’s bringing home a new girlfriend I want to impress. The tablecloth and vase would really dress up the table. Love your ideas!
I love to put votive candles in glass cylinders with orchids at the bottom
What’s a good table idea for Christmas?
I think the pumpkinorah is an excellent idea! I was talking to my mom the other day about making cranberry applesauce. I’ve made homemade cranberry sauce years ago and it came out great!
I adore that pumpkin menorah! I am using that idea for sure, so brilliant!
We did floating candles at my wedding…can be done for any holiday.
I’ve been torn on how to decorate for Thanksgivukkah. I will definitely be stealing your mini pumpkin menorah – Thanks for the great ideas!
Nice pumpkini idea for a menorah but using flameless candles would be safer withlittle children.
Hope I can win!
Spending this thanksgiving in California wine country!
Kathy, you are so talented! I love it! ::) Next up we need pumpkin latkes and dreidel shaped sweet potato cutouts. mmm
at wine goes best with turkey ?
Would love to win this.. It’s beautiful!
I love to do more of a feast-style table setting with fruit, herbs and candles.
Beautiful arrangement. would love to win this runner.
LOVE the table decor.Beautiful way to blend Thanksgiving and Chanukah!Keep the great ideas coming..
Use flameless candles for safety.
good luck
Make place cards out of painted pine cones. Looks great on the table.
This year I am these really pretty place cards out of felt, cardboard and ribbon. They always give your table a little bit of something extra.
We will be having Turkey Soup with Matzah Balls, potato kugel with Cranberry orange sauce, green beans Almandine. Parve Sofganiot, I’m using an orange table cloth with a blue overlay.
For chanukah I would love to take old mason jars, or pickle jars and mode podge on blue and silver paper, but to add a thanksgiving aspect to it, I would put in apple pie spice scented candles. 🙂
thanks so much
Love the pumpkin menorah. I have three young grand daughters who would love to make the turkey napkins. Thanks for the ideas.
I love decorating a table for the holidays
I really live the pumpkin menorah! So easy and inexpensive and a wonderful centerpiece!
One holiday idea is having bouquets of sunflowers on the table.I like to use servingware that looks like turkeys or has turkeys on it.I love the turkey napkins!
Being allergic (or intolerant) of turkey, I’ve always had Brisket for Thanksgiving. First time, I won’t have to make it twice so close together. Nice ideas here for the table will work.
THANKSGIVUKKAH!!! LOVE THE TABLE.. AND THE TABLECLOTH!!! CANT WAIT TO MAKE THE TURKEY NAPKINS!!
Everything looks fabulous! Chag Sameach!
instead of love beads I am going to make a curtain out of hannukah gelt and turkey feathers for a fun thanksgivukkah decoration!
I love the mini pumpkin chanukiya. Can’t wait to go all out decorating for Thanksgivukkah
Where can I find those wonderful martini glasses!
The pumpkin center piece is excellent! I’ll be working a Thanksgiving/Hanukah dinner and then a Hanukah dinner the week after. I am certain some of the ideas seen here will make its way to the dinner table(s)!
I’m anxious to make this the best Thanksgiving ever.
my mom was talking about stuffing her turkey with chocolate coins 🙂
I love setting a pretty table and this tablecloth will certainly help
I am so excited by the possibilities of celebrating my two favorite holidays representing gratitude and hope!
Thanks for the giveaway!! I will be assisting with 4 Thanksgiving dinners and a Chanuakh party this year so I could use the help 🙂
Love the pumpkin menorah idea! Cute and pretty!
I always loved the floating draidels in little glass cubes/vases etc.
I suppose you can float acorns too for a Thanksgiving addition.
this year i am doing a sheva bracha/thanksgiving hanukah dinner for my to be newly married daughter! hope i win!