Gift Guld

GOLD & DIAMOND CENTER, INC.

Importer, Wholesaler and Retailer

Bloomfield Town Square Shopping Center
248.745.8888 • 2161 Telegraph Road • Bloomfield Hills
Hours: Mon - Sat 10 am - 7 pm
Holiday Hours: Open Sundays 11 am - 4 pm

Creative
Chanukah Ideas

A party planner shares her tips for a
fun-filled celebration.

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he celebration of Chanukah
is a time that Jewish families
look forward to all year.
Penny Warner, author of The
Best Party Book: 1001 Creative Ideas
for Fun Parties (Meadowbrook Press),
has some great suggestions for cele-
brating Chanukah, the eight-day
Festival of Lights.

•Your invitations should bring out
the holiday spirit. Cut out a menorah
from yellow paper and write parry
details on the back of it. You can also
make Star of David invitations with
blue and white construction
paper. Simply cut
out one white tri-
angle and one
blue triangle,
weave the trian-
gles into an
authentic star
shape, glue them
together, and
write your party
details on the
edges.

•Party decora-
tions can be a lot
of work, but
Warner recom-
mends keeping
them simple and
traditional.
Decorate your
home or party
room with blue
and white, the
traditional
Chanukah col-
ors. You can
find blue and
white crepe
paper, cups, plates,
and other decorations at a party sup-
ply store or a store that sells Judaica
merchandise. Write Hebrew phrases,
such as Nes Gadol Hayah Sham which

means "A great miracle happened
there," or Shalom which means
"peace", on streamers and hang them
from the ceiling and walls. Light a
menorah and place it in a front win-
dow to greet your guests. Play tradi-
tional Hebrew music.

•When the guests arrive, keep them
busy with popular Chanukah activi-
ties, such as spinning the dreidel.
This game of chance can be played
with the whole family, but children
especially enjoy it. It's easy to make a
four-sided dreidel with clay, or you
can purchase one at a toy
store. Each side of
the dreidel has a
letter on it that
tells you what to
do. If you spin the
dreidel and land
on "N" you get
nothing from the
kitty, "G" you get
everything, "H"
you get half, "S"
you put half of
your money in the
kitty. The kitty is
the pot or center,
which is filled
with pennies or
candies.

•During all the
fun, serve tradi-
tional foods, such
as potato latkes or
blintzes. Have
guests bring a
favorite recipe
from a Jewish
cookbook and do
a recipe exchange.

•Easy party favors include dreidels,
chocolate coins wrapped in gold foil,
candles or menorahs, blue and white
items such as stationery or dishware ❑

