Hanukkah Celebration: 8 Nights of Tablescape Ideas

As the holiday season approaches, it’s time to start thinking about Hanukkah celebrations. Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is an eight-day celebration that commemorates the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. It’s a time for family gatherings, gift-giving, and of course, delicious food.

While the traditional Hanukkah menu usually includes latkes, sufganiyot, and other classic dishes, it’s also important to create a festive atmosphere with beautiful tablescapes. Whether you’re hosting a big family dinner or just a small gathering with friends, there are plenty of creative ways to decorate your table for the occasion. From elegant candle displays to playful dreidel centerpieces, there are endless possibilities for creating a memorable Hanukkah celebration.

On my blog Living Large in A Small House, I may sometimes use affiliate links, which means a small commission is earned if you purchase via the link. The price will be the same whether you use the affiliate link or go directly to the vendor’s website using a non-affiliate link. You can find my full Disclosure Policy HERE

The Significance of Hanukkah

Understanding the Festival of Lights

As a Jewish holiday, Hanukkah is celebrated for eight nights and is also known as the Festival of Lights. It is a time when families come together to light the menorah, exchange gifts, and enjoy festive meals. The holiday is a celebration of the miracle that occurred in the temple in Jerusalem over 2,000 years ago.

The story goes that a small group of Jewish rebels, known as the Maccabees, fought against the Greek army who had taken control of the temple. Despite being greatly outnumbered, the Maccabees were able to defeat the Greeks and reclaim the temple. When they entered the temple, they found that only one small jar of oil remained to light the menorah, which was needed to keep the temple lit for eight days. Miraculously, the oil lasted for the full eight days, which is why Hanukkah is celebrated for eight nights.

The First Night of Hanukkah

On the first night of Hanukkah, a special candle, known as the shamash, is lit. This candle is used to light the other candles on the menorah. Each night, an additional candle is lit until all eight candles are burning brightly. The menorah is traditionally placed in a window so that it can be seen by others, as a reminder of the miracle that occurred so many years ago.

Hanukkah is a time of joy and celebration, and it is an important part of the holiday season. It is a time to come together with family and friends, to share in the traditions and customs of the holiday, and to remember the miracle of the oil that burned for eight days. Whether you are Jewish or not, Hanukkah is a wonderful opportunity to learn about and appreciate the rich traditions and history of this important holiday.

Our Introduction to Hanukkah

We have had a menorah in our home for the holidays since the girls were little. They wanted to know about Hanukkah. I bought a book and menorah so we could learn together. What I never had right was how the candles are lit each night. It wasn’t until Annie married Tommy that we learned the proper way to celebrate this holiday. Tommy is Jewish. 

It now has become important for our family to learn about not just Hanukkah but the more Holy Jewish Holidays. 

Planning Your Hanukkah Tablescape

When it comes to celebrating any holiday, one of the most important things that I consider is the tablescape. A well-designed tablescape can add a touch of elegance and creativity to your celebration. In this section, I will share some tips and ideas to help you plan the perfect Hanukkah tablescape.

Choosing a Theme

The first step in planning your Hanukkah tablescape is to choose a theme. You can choose a traditional theme, such as the Star of David or the Menorah, or you can get creative and choose a modern theme, such as a winter wonderland or a blue and silver color scheme. Whatever theme you choose, make sure it reflects your style and adds a festive touch to your celebration.

To create a cohesive look, choose table linens, dishes, and decorations that match your theme. For example, if you choose a winter wonderland theme, you can use white tablecloths, silver plates, and snowflake decorations. If you choose a Star of David theme, you can use blue tablecloths, gold plates, and Star of David decorations.

8 Different Tablescapes

I have a simple white color scheme for Christmas this year. That will be the base of my themes. I plan to use simple changes with things I already own for my nightly dinner table settings. By changing up the table each night I’m adding a bit of my own creative personal touches to my Hanukkah tablescape. Because I love blue and white and have a bit of a collection in those colors, it’s going to make it easy to change up my Hanukkah table setting.

Table Setting Basics

As I prepare for any celebration, I always start with some table basics.

• Covering the Table: For my Hanukkah table I’m starting with a white tablecloth topped with a white gauze table runner
• Floral Arrangements: Every beautifully decorated table needs a centerpiece. I’m using flowers and I keeping the arrangement low so as not to interrupt the conversation.
• Table Settings: I’ve arranged each of the place settings with a beaded edge charger as well as a white porcelain charger
• Flatware: I will be using the same silverware for each night.
• Place Cards: If you are having a larger group you might want to consider place cards to make your guests feel welcome. 
• Special Touch: The beautiful blue and white menorah with its blue candles will also be on the table.

8 Nights of Hanukkah Table Settings

When it comes to decorating your Hanukkah tablescape, there are many decorative elements that you can use to create a beautiful and festive atmosphere. Here are my 8 different table-setting ideas:

• White Dinner Plate, Hanukkah Salad Plate, Hanukkah Napkin
• Flow Blue Dinner Plate, Flow Blue Salad Plate, White Napkin
• Blue Dinner Plate, Hanukkah Salad Plate, White Napkin
• White Dinner Plate, White Square Salad Plate, Blue and White Plaid Napkin
• White Dinner Plate, Flow Blue Salad Plate, Hanukkah Napkin
• White Dinner Plate, Hanukkah Salad Plate, White Napkin
• Blue Dinner Plate, Hanukkah Salad Plate, Hanukkah Napkin
• White Dinner Plate, White Salad Plate, Hanukkah Napkin

Finishing Touches

​The Floral Arrangments

If you’ve been following me for a while, you know that I love Trader Joe’s for flowers. I was so surprised to see some peonies at this time of year but they went immediately into my cart. Some blue thistles and veronica that are pretty with the pink peonies also found their way into my cart. I then just added some seeded eucalyptus, some green St. John’s wort ornamental berries, and some tree ferns. 

My vessel is a  vintage blue and white transferware chamber pot. I placed some chicken wire into the bowl and filled it with fresh water and plant food from one of the flower bundles. Then I just moved around the pot placing all of the flowers in an evenly spaced fashion into the vase. 

The first floral arrangement will last for the first four days, then I will replace the flowers with some wooden roses that I also found at Trader Joe’s.

Adding Other Decorative Touches

Dreidels are a beloved Hanukkah tradition, and they can also make a beautiful addition to your tablescape. Consider incorporating decorative dreidels into your centerpiece or using them as place card holders. You can also create a playful and interactive element by placing a dreidel at each place setting and encouraging guests to play a game after dinner.

To make your dreidels stand out, choose unique and eye-catching designs. Look for dreidels made from materials such as glass, ceramic, or metal, or opt for a set with intricate hand-painted details. You can also create a DIY dreidel centerpiece by filling a clear glass vase with dreidels and adding some fresh greenery or flowers.

With a little creativity and attention to detail, you can make your Hanukkah celebration truly shine. 

You could also use Star of David decor as an added touch to your table. You can even find on YouTube,  a way to fold your napkins into a Star of David.

Even if you don’t celebrate Hanukkah, I hope this gives you some inspiration to switch things up on your holiday table

Happy Hanukkah!

Peace and Love,

Thanks for Following Along

If you enjoyed this post I hope you sign up to be a friend of Living Large in A Small House! Then you won’t miss any of the inspiration that is shared with you each week! You can also follow me on  Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. I share even more inspiration on Pinterest! You can listen to me chat on my Podcast.

A great way to save this article is to save it to your Pinterest boards. You can find the pin button in the top right corner of the photo below. Also, don’t forget to follow me on Pinterest

Web Story

Sharing is caring!