Creative Wednesdays
Hanukkah, or Chanukah, begins this weekend. You and your nanny kids don’t need to be Jewish to enjoy making this holiday craft. Describe the symbolism of the menorah and why it’s used during Hanukkah. Explain to the children that In the second century BC the Jews rebelled against the Greek-Syrians who had denied them the right to freely practice Judaism and had demanded that the Jews pray to the Greek gods instead.
Judah Maccabee led an army that defeated the Greeks and took back their temple and city. His army was known as the Maccabees.
When it came time to rededicate the temple after winning it back from the Greeks, the Maccabees found only enough oil to light their lamps for one night. In what is widely known as “the miracle of Hanukkah,” the oil somehow lasted long enough for the lamp to burn for eight days and eight nights. That’s why we light the menorah with nine candles for eight nights (the ninth is known as a shamash, or “head candle,” and you use it to light the others).
My Nanny Kid loves Petite Oui yogurts so I’ve saved a few of the empty jars for her to make a pseudo menorah craft for Hanukkah. Use any small class or plastic container to hold tea lights.
You Will Need:
9 Votive Holders (substitute any small clear plastic or glass container)
Tissue Paper
Safety Scissors
Glue
9 Battery Operated Tea Light
What to Do:
1. Cut out tissue paper into shapes and designs to decorate the tea light holders or clear containers. We decorated one tea light differently than the others to represent the shamash candle.
2. Paste the tissue paper to the containers.
3. Let the kids drop a battery operated tea light into each candle holder.
bethebestnanny.com 
Leave a Reply