Also known as “the Festival of Lights”, Hanukkah is filled with traditions meant to commemorate important events in Jewish history. If your coming on age celebration falls during this very special occasion, a Chanukah themed sweet sixteen should be perfect for you. Host the perfect Hanukkah Sweet 16 and celebrate the glorious eight days and nights of Hanukkah with these eight steps:
1) Add a festive gobo to your Hanukkah Sweet Sixteen celebration to light up your ceremony along side the traditional menorah.
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A white textured patterned gobo adds elegance to your walls at your Chanukah Sweet 16. You can easily customize the design to be any pattern or personalized text you choose. Shine it on the wall behind the menorah; its sure to impress your family and friends during the candle lighting.
2) Using blue uplights can add a radiant effect to your Sweet Sixteen and complement your gobo design.
Uplighting and gobos are a perfect match and so easy to set up. Create a wow effect at your Hanukkah Sweet Sixteen by covering every inch of the walls in blue and white color; this effect is called color washing.
3) Pay homage to the 8 nights of Chanukah with a starry night light effect.
The starry night light will be a beautiful accent to your Hanukkah Sweet 16. Blisslights will keep the ambiance of a beautiful night sky to help memorialize the tradition of a dimly lit Hanukkah.
4) Sometimes, less is more – add a solid color table cloth to your banquet to help your head table stand out for the lighting of the menorah.
Mazel Moments
With all the colorful decor for the head table, a solid colored table cloth will complement perfectly the menorah and any Hanukkah themed decorations that your head table is adorned with.
Mazel Moments
5) Give your Sweet Sixteen a modern look by adding white spandex chair covers to complement your Hanukkah color scheme.
DH Gate
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Spandex chair covers will stay tidy throughout the night and add the perfect touch of elegance to any Chanukah birthday party.
6) Prepare some Hanukkah themed party favors for your Sweet 16 guests to enjoy.
Better Home and Gardens
Cute dreidel inspired candy boxes are the perfect idea for a Hanukkah themed Sweet Sixteen. These easily customizable dreidel party favors can even be made by hand: http://www.bhg.com/holidays/hanukkah/crafts/dreidel-gift-box/
7) Bring your party guests together by giving them the option to play a few Hanukkah games.
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Spinning the dreidel is the perfect traditional Hanukkah activity for your birthday guests to enjoy during your Hanukkah Sweet Sixteen.
Taste of Home
8) Finish off the night by giving your friends and family traditional Hanukkah dishes.
Once Upon A Chef
Follow these simple steps to create potato latkes that your guests will enjoy:
Servings: Makes 18 latkes
Total Time: 40 Minutes
Ingredients
- 2 pounds russet potatoes (2-3)
- 1 medium yellow onion, peeled (about the size of a baseball)
- 2 large eggs
- 2 scant teaspoons salt
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/4 cup all purpose flour
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- Equipment: 2 heavy non-stick rimmed baking sheets*
Instructions
- Set oven racks in center preheat oven to 425 degrees.
- Peel the potatoes, then coarsely grate them with the onion together in food processor or by hand using a box grater. Place potato mixture in a fine sieve and press down firmly with paper towel to remove excess moisture. Stir and repeat a few times with fresh paper towels until liquid is mostly drained. Transfer potato mixture to bowl and mix in eggs, salt, baking powder and flour.
- Fill two heavy non-stick rimmed baking sheets with 1/2 cup oil each. Place pans in oven for 10 minutes to heat the oil. Wearing oven mitts, carefully remove pans from oven. Drop batter by the 1/4-cupful onto baking sheets, spacing about 1-1/2 inches apart. Using the bottom of the measuring cup or a spoon, press down on pancakes to flatten just slightly. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until bottoms are crisp and golden. Carefully remove pans from oven and flip latkes (tongs are the best tool as a spatula may cause oil to splatter). Place pans back in oven and cook until latkes are crisp and golden brown all over, about 10 minutes more. Remove pans from oven and transfer latkes to large platter lined with paper towels. Serve immediately with sour cream or apple sauce, if desired.
*It is very important to use non-stick baking sheets so the latkes don’t stick.
Sweet Sixteen Ideas 