Given our new dining room table has taken on the nickname “Hanukkah table” with it’s perfectly blue and white mother of pearl floral patterns and scattered stars that can easily yet unintentionally pass for the Magen David or otherwise known as Star of David, I figured I had to do it justice for it’s first Hanukkah in our home.
So I added a few things to make it feel extra festive, a blue toile table runner, a combo of blue hydrangeas and white peonies, dreidels and gelt, fancy shot glasses (my husband is Russian), our menorah and some little blue and white trinkets from my mother in law, salt and pepper shakers guised as a woman, De Moroz (Russian Santa) and a little monkey.
I added a little goodie bag at each place setting with a little bit of extra gelt and blue and white star cookies to take home, but I also liked the idea of using a Sugarfina candy cube instead, particularly the blue robin’s egg caramels which are as delicious as they are on theme.
As excited as I was to use my adorable blue and white marble candles they really didn’t seem to melt very well on my menorah, burning down incredibly fast so I recommend going with practicality perhaps over style here and choosing candles specifically fashioned for Hanukkah use. My ginger jar placards couldn’t help but fit in with the theme and since we were going with blue and white I used a little Wedgewood jasperware trinket box for my gelt display.
The challah could have been homemade had I enlisted the help of my husband but this one from Whole Foods was pretty tasty. I typically get their pretzel challah year round, sometimes even the one with chocolate chips when I’m in the mood for something sweeter.
I know this year has been really rough on everyone, some much more than others. So even though we may not be able to celebrate these holidays in the traditional sense, we all deserve to create something special for ourselves, in whatever way works best given the circumstances, even if it’s creating a beautiful table just for one.
And if the sprint of Hanukkah can remind us of anything at all, my hope is, it’s our belief in miracles.