Menorahs come in all shapes and sizes, but one thing remains constant — they must have nine candles (eight representing the nights the oil burned and one, called the shamash, that is used to light the others). So leave it to Jodi Levine, crafts editor at Martha Stewart Living, to come up with some creative ways to create menorahs at home. "When [my boys] were very small, we cut out cardboard menorahs and 'lit' them by adding a yellow crayon scribble to the candles each night. More recently, we constructed functional models from wood, glitter, and to hold the candles, hexagonal nuts from the hardware store. They love having their own menorahs to light, while I use the silver one my parents gave me when I first left home."
With Hanukkah starting this week, we turned to Jodi for some fun ways families can make their own menorahs this year. Keep reading for four creative ideas!
Forget a real flame and go for a more kid-friendly one this year with Jodi Levine's mini gift box menorah.
For a natural menorah, Jodi suggests looking no further than your own backyard.
These olive oil lights make for a very traditional menorah, truly exemplifying the story of Hanukkah.
For a fun kid-friendly craft, consider using square beads to create a menorah.