Growing up in an interfaith family, I celebrated both Christmas and Hanukkah as a child. My Jewish mother was perfectly content to celebrate Christmas, in part because as a little girl she had always secretly envied the Christmas tree. Who wouldn’t want a Christmas tree? It smells of evergreens, it sparkles and shines, and it adds cheer to the home during the cold winter nights when we’re stuck indoors.
If you are Jewish but have always envied the Christmas tree, why not have a Hanukkah bush this year? A Hanukkah bush is just as it sounds: a small tree that is decorated to celebrate not Christmas but Hanukkah.
Some critics argue the Hanukkah bush causes Jews to assimilate into mainstream Christian culture and lose their own traditions. While this is a valid concern, the Christmas tree has become not just a Christian tradition, but a very American one. If you desire to take part in this tradition, do not let a few naysayers stop you. Adorning a Hanukkah bush with ornaments and decorations that represent the Jewish traditions is a way to celebrate your religion and culture while also taking part in a very American pastime.
Decorating a Hanukkah bush can be a very fun family activity to do on the first night of Hanukkah. Fry up some latkes and jelly doughnuts and have fun.
To decorate your Hanukkah bush, first you must select the tree. A typical Christmas tree lot will have a large variety of evergreens to choose from, in various widths and heights. If it is your first year decorating a Hanukkah bush, you might want to select a smaller tree so there will be fewer branches to decorate. Over the years, you might acquire more decorations and can move up to a larger tree.
Be sure to ask someone at the tree lot for advice on how to care for the tree. A few things to keep in mind: You will need to buy a tree stand to hold the tree up. When you get home, you will need to saw a half inch off the base of the tree to aid water absorption. The tree will need to be watered once or twice a day.
All this sounding like too much trouble? You can always buy a fake tree! Some online retailers even sell artificial Hanukkah bushes now. Treetopia.com sells Hanukkah bushes as well as a variety of trees that come in all colors and sizes.
When your tree is all set up, it is time to decorate! First you will want to cover the tree with a few strands of twinkling lights. White and blue would be good choices for a Hanukkah bush. Gently drape the strands on the branches and plug in. You can also look for silver and blue tinsel or garlands to add sparkle to the tree. After the lights and tinsel are on, your Hanukkah bush will already look really great. Now it is time for the ornaments.
If you have children, you can have them make a few homemade ornaments. Homemade ornaments are always the most beloved and can be made easily. Cut thick paper into shapes of menorahs, dreidels and stars of David. Your kids can color them with markers or sprinkle them with glitter. Glue a small portrait of your child onto the ornament and write the year it was made, and you will have a memory that will last for years to come. Use a paper clip to hang from the tree.
If you are a creative type, you can make your own ornaments. Try something more intricate than paper and glitter; you can make ornaments with clay, beads, yarn or felt. To brainstorm ideas, you can browse the web for homemade Christmas ornament galleries, and adapt the ideas to be Hanukkah-themed designs.
There are also a few stores and web sites that now sell Hanukkah bush ornaments. Judaica Specialties has a wide selection of beautiful glass and beaded ornaments perfect for a Hanukkah bush. Etsy.com also features some nice homemade Hanukkah themed ornaments.
Though it is tricky to find a wide selection of Hanukkah ornaments, you can also spruce up your Hanukkah bush with some winter-themed ornaments. Snowflakes, snowmen, and icicles all work well.
Also, it is nice to complement the more exquisite, detailed ornaments with some basic ball-shaped ornaments. The simple shiny spheres are inexpensive, come in multi-packs and come in many colors.
Finally it is time to top the tree. Tree toppers can include angels, stars and snowflakes. Or you can simply attach a large silver bow to the top of the tree. There are many possibilities to be creative.
Now you know how to decorate a Hanukkah bush. If you choose to partake in this new tradition, remember to be creative and have fun! Chag Hanukkah sameach!
