Why I Love Not Decorating For Hanukkah

Have you ever seen a house decorated to the nines for Hanukkah?

I have not, and IMHO, it cannot be done.

I've tried wrapping blue and silver garland around the bannister...

and hanging a big, tinsel Jewish star on the door.

It just doesn't cut it, my friends.

Maybe  it has something to do with the colors. 

When the meeting was held to decide holiday colors,

Hanukkah got the short end of the rainbow, 

with cool blues and silvers, 

as opposed to Christmas' warm reds and greens.

This creates a decorating dilemma for me, 

since blue and silver don't get along with the other colors in my home.

So...I have to confine my Hanukkah blues to a small area.

I'd like to be able to add some natural elements in my decor,

that would reflect the miracle of Hanukkah, but there are no boughs of holly, no evergreen trees, and no red berries.

The closest we come to "natural" is with food, lol.

But unlike gingerbread houses and candy canes,

latkes (potato pancakes) and jelly doughnuts don't lend themselves to decorating

(as if there'd by any leftovers, hah!).

So, what then, deck the halls with loaves of challah?

Chah-lah-lah-lah-LAH-lah-lah-lah-LAH!

I'm not really a fan of Hanukkah bushes.

They don't hold a candle -- or should I say, eight candles -- to a Christmas tree.

To me, no matter how many dreidels and Jewish stars you hang on them,

they still look like a Christmas tree in Chanukah clothing. 

I couldn't resist, however, hanging a few dreidels on my winter branches 

just for laughs...

and Mr. Goo Shoes did laugh when he saw it.

Although many people start decorating for Christmas right after Thanksgiving,

it doesn't begin to look a lot like Hanukkah around here until just a few days before.

We are usually rummaging through the closets looking for the menorahs...

and, where the heck are those Hanukkah candles that I bought on sale last year?

 Now lest you think I am asking for I pity party,

let me assure you I am not.

I'm not complaining, just explaining.

I LOVE not decorating for Hanukkah!

To me, getting ready for the Festival of Lights means 

pulling a few treasured items out of storage...

Like the menorahs Junior Goo Shoes made when he was little, 

and the menorah house we bought him years ago.

I love that my grandparents, whom I never knew, lit the same menorah 

that now sits on my counter.

This menorah, so special to us because we bought it in Israel two years ago, 

is on display year-round...

 

And, anyone who comes to my house has to hear why this 2,000-year-old broken pottery is sitting next to it, even if I've told them the story ten times before.

We set aside one night to have a family Hanukkah party,
and Aunt Goo Shoes whips up enough latkes to serve Judah Macabee's entire army.

Our dog, Sadie, recognizes the blessing over the candles,
and when we sing it, she goes CRAZY, because she knows
IT'S TIME FOR PRESENTS!
I think I'll record her antics this year. 

When Junior Goo Shoes was born, we were given this dreidel as a gift...

(oy, I should have polished it!)

 

This one, I bought at TJ Maxx a couple of weeks ago.

So although my house isn't decorated from head to toe,

the Hanukkah candles create a warm glow.

Only sentimental items are on display,

and the best part is -- not much to put away!

OMG, I did not just write that poem, did I? 

OY VAY!

 Wishing those who celebrate a very Happy Hanukkah!

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