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.
Candles really make a huge difference! I love it.
I like to decorate with mini pumpkins.
Do you have any ideas doe decorating a table for kids for Thanksgiving?
great site, wonderfull ideas
We haven’t had a Hanukkah celebration since y father passed 10 years ago, but with the upcoming birth of my first grandchild, I’m hoping to start again, this would be a great new beginning.
I’m terrible at table setting, so I stick with simple is better. We use a nice centerpiece depending on the season.
Any good ideas for the kids table to keep them occupied when they finish eating? They always seem to finish in about 10 minutes! I usually set out crayons and paper, but would like something different!
Your table is so pretty. Did you make the place mats? They really go great with your table settings.
i found this idea on pinterest that i really wanna do. get a white tablecloth and have everyone write down what they are thankful for and keep doing that every year.
I have seen some interesting holiday snacks and desserts on pinterest and blogs. I think it would be cute to set each place setting with a delicious edible turkey decoration like this one here for Thanksgiving this year. -> http://madamedeals.com/cute-edible-turkey-decoration-for-thanksgiving-table/
I plan on putting leaves all over the table
I saw a great idea on Pinterest using white pumpkins and bittersweet on the Thanksgiving table and I really want to give it a try if I can find white pumpkins!
I am doing a small family Thanksgiving. What would be a good idea for a rustic inexpensive look?
I love a pretty table
For Christmas we are doing a snow-y theme, ( white and silver) and not the traditional green and red.
I glitter up small pine cones & acorns and use them as napkin holders & I use Shellacked fall leaves as name cards
If you have room, set up another table for the food to create a buffet, or use a kitchen table, or cover a counter to create the space
I have a question…we never have room for a centerpiece. I really wish I could. How to do that?
My daughter wanted to make colorful turkey bowls to fill with candy for thanksgiving.
We always cut our own Christmas tree. Once us “girls” have helped pick the tree we take baskets and pick nice pinecones and try to find nice smelling branches. On our tables we put small baskets with cones lined with the branches. It always makes it FEEL like Christmas.
The kids usually make their own table mats.
use battery operated candles found at all craft stores like Michaels, or simply blow out the candles before you serve the meal
i will need to google that question, or ask Martha 🙂
love acorns, funny about the rocks. If they are smooth, wash and paint them and write on them what you are thankful for…just an idea
deep purple works well with apple green
I’ve been scouring the web for Thanksgiving Table Setting ideas for weeks now! I’m anxious to be doing the entertaining this year.
I love acorns as well, but hard to find here in Israel. Acorns are cute attached to placecards, enjoy
If you use the white pumpkins then place a runner or darker color tablecloth underneath for contrast, or you could create the contrast with colorful leaves
not sure, I would google that question, enjoy
How do you keep such a beautiful tablecloth from getting stained/ruined without using plastic?
My question is: how do you make candles not interfere with the food?
I like handmade turkeys for each seat by the kids.
Love this tablescape. There are such cute ideas here!
We string battery powered lights along the center of the table with leaves and gourds.
I live in the country. I like to take a nature walk with the grandkids and collect acorns and other things then fill several small bowls with the items for the table. Warning! If you have grandsons you will end up with plenty of rocks!
Is it true that scented candles should not be utilized at an event with food being served?
What’s a good holiday color that would go with bright yellow-green? It’s my kitchen accent color, and I’m trying to dress it up for the season.
Very nice cookbooks
I like to keep a big basket in the center of my table filled with fruit
I like to decorate by using things I find such as beautiful leaves and pinecones
My mama and I are looking for Thanksgiving/Hannukah ideas and we loved this!
Love candles and flowers in fall colors for Thanksgiving.
don’t forget – the people are more important than the food or the decorations
I just love the pumpkin menorah! We usually get the white mini pumpkins. I think they would look great used as a menorah! The turkey napkins are adorable too! Thanks for the great ideas!!
if you can’t find pumpkins acorn squash will work, enjoy
I would never have thought of using those mini pumpkins to make a menorah! I must buy some today. I love that idea.
I really love the pumpkin candleholders. I would really like to try that with gourds.
love that the desserts are near you, great idea
thanks, if you can’t find pumpkins (in Israel)acorn squash is also an option, available at the shuk
thank you Miriam