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Celebrate the festival of lights with modern, stylish Hanukkah decorations

Anna Lane ,  Janelle Randazza   | Reviewed

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Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, starts this weekend! If you and your family celebrate this Jewish holiday, you know that this year Hanukkah begins on Sunday, December 18 and the eight-night event will conclude on Monday, December 26. 

► When is the first night of Hanukkah? 2022 dates for this Jewish holiday, how it is celebrated.

Hanukkah is about more than potato pancakes and jelly donuts; it's really a celebration of a miracle, and it's a great excuse to deck your house out in some festive Hanukkah decorations.

►What to do with kids this Hanukkah: 8 nights of family-friendly Hanukkah activities

►What to wear this Hanukkah: 8 festive looks for every Hanukkah event this season

►Need a side dish? These delicious Hanukkah side dish recipes make the perfect accompaniment to your holiday meal

Whether it's your first time celebrating Hanukkah or you just want to freshen up your usual festivities, here are some of our favorite things to make your festival of lights sparkle. 

1. A Hanukkah wreath

These beautiful Hanukkah wreaths will adorn your front door with a festive flair. If you're running short on time, there are simple blue and white ornament wreaths you can still pick up at Target or HomeGoods that are a great starting point. If you'd like your wreath to be more representative of your faith, we love these two that are available at Etsy and HomeGoods.

$7 at Target

$25 at HomeGoods

$79 at Etsy

$81 at Wayfair

2. A Hanukkah gingerbread house

This classic gingerbread house has been transformed it into a snow-capped cottage designed especially for Hanukkah. Made by artisan bakers, each gingerbread house is handcrafted from delicious, spiced gingerbread and decorated with white and blue royal icing, spice-drop lights, a dreidel, a menorah and a smiling snowman. 

Above each snowy doorway is a cookie plaque that reads "Happy Hanukkah."

$75 at Williams Sonoma

3. Modern menorahs

No Hanukkah celebration is complete without a menorah, so why not get one that you really love? You're supposed to put your menorah in a window, where passersby can see it, so you may as well get one that makes a statement. 

For a whimsical choice, you can't go wrong with the Jonathan Adler Elephant menorah. If you prefer something more dramatic, the Trace menorah features a sleek look and stands over 10 inches tall.

$99 at Jonathan Adler

$165 at Food52

4. Stylish menorah candles

You get what you pay for when it comes to Hanukkah candles, so it's worth spending a bit more for better quality. I've never been disappointed by Crate & Barrel's Hanukkah candles, and I love the ombre blue color scheme. One box will take you through all eight nights, but if you plan to light more than one menorah, you'll need a second box.

Pro tip: Put a piece of aluminum foil underneath your menorah to catch any wax drips and protect your furniture.  

$15 at Crate & Barrel

5. Festive Hanukkah string lights

Celebrating Hanukkah is all about bringing light to the darkness, so why not bring even more light with a set of Star of David string lights? These battery-operated Star of David string lights are perfect for putting anywhere that needs a little sparkle. 

$11 at Amazon

6. Classic strands of garland

For a traditional look, a felt garland adorning your fireplace mantle is a nice touch. This sweet pom-pom garland is 10 feet long, and it features beautiful, Hanukkah-appropriate colors for just the right amount of flair. Use two or three together for a fuller, magazine-ready look.

$21 at Paper Source

7. Eye-catching outdoor Hanukkah decorations

If you want to go all out for Hanukkah this year, why not get a giant inflatable menorah for your front yard? Measuring almost 8 feet tall, this makes a big statement. You'll bring lots of cheer to the neighborhood—as well as plenty of (actual) light. 

$247 at Wayfair

8. Charming Hanukkah table setting

Eating a delicious meal is a big part of Hanukkah, which means you may as well set a stunning table. This Hanukkah table runner from Wayfair is festive and elegant without being kitschy. 

Pair with pieces from this stunning Hanukkah Medallion Stoneware set from Williams Sonoma for a beautiful tablescape. 

$28 at Wayfair

Starting at $49 at Willams Sonoma

9. Kid-friendly crafts 

If you have kids and you want to be festive, but you just don't have a lot of spare time, let Year Cheer send you everything you need to help decorate and celebrate.

The holiday Hanukkah craft kits include décor items to deck out your house and table, as well as family activities and a holiday book just for the kids. It's a low-stress way to get the whole family in on the Hanukkah fun. 

$54 at Year Cheer

10. A neat and clean deep fryer 

If you're going to celebrate Hanukkah, you need to make fried food at least once (though your rabbi and mother-in-law would prefer you make more).

Frying latkes is much easier if you invest in a compact deep fryer, like the Hamilton Beach Professional Grade Electric Deep Fryer. It's easy to use, turns out delicious fried foods and the lid and oil basket can be run through the dishwasher. Plus, you won't have to spend your holiday scrubbing grease off of your stove. 

$85 at Amazon

11. Essentials like dreidels and gelt 

Don't be intimidated by playing dreidel, it's actually incredibly easy, and it's lots of fun. These dreidels come two to a set, and they even have the English translation written above each Hebrew character to make it easy for anyone to play.

As for the gelt, skip the tiny foil bags you usually find at the grocery store checkout counter, and splash out for some really good chocolate. We like the Jacques Torres Gelt Coins, because it includes a mix of dark and milk chocolate that are smooth, flavorful and not waxy. 

$6.99 at Amazon

$13.99 at Jacques Torres

12. Star of David Christmas tree topper and menorah lights

If you celebrate both Hanukkah and Christmas, like many interfaith families do (including mine), topping the tree with a Star of David tree topper can be a nice way to blend traditions.

We also put menorah string lights on our tree, as well as some Hanukkah ornaments, but the thing that stands out the most is our stained glass Star of David tree topper. It's sparkly, beautiful and always a topic of conversation when guests come over. 

$22 at Amazon

$43 at Wayfair

$78 at Wayfair

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