In most Jewish households, grandparents and parents give children gelt,or gold coins made of plastic or full of chocolate, through Hanukkah. “The actual money value is not significant; the point is to educate the kids about how the material can be used to nurture our spiritual selves,” says Israeli blogger and stylist Sarit Novak. Novak’s family also hangs a giant dreidel in the ceiling at the start of the holiday season. “Every night after lighting the menorah candles we drop the dreidel shirt, open it, and inside there are little gifts for children. Other Jewish households spin the dreidel for a game of opportunity.”
Novak believes the holidays are a great opportunity to showcase everyday materials, made special with a few precious components and accessories. Get simple ideas for your table, mantel and gift packaging.
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Precious gelt pail. Novak utilizes a silver-tone pail lined with petite pom-pom trim for gelt. “I enjoy the sweet kind of this pom-poms,” she says. “They also add some movement and whimsy to a very simple setup. Fill the pail with gelt and sprinkle a couple about it, and you add as much ribbon to the table”
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Or skip the pom-poms for a sleeker look that is both kid and adult friendly.
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Organic gelt sack. Seasonal fruit and vegetables, and jute from your regional fabric shop, add a natural, rustic touch to the table.
Novak sets a couple of gelt coins within a jute sack and ties the bag together with a cherry satin ribbon.
Rita from Design Megillah
Gelt garland. Stylist, blogger and writer of Jewish Holiday Style Rita Brownstein dresses up her mantel using a gelt garland. The coins are from a local party store.
Rita from Design Megillah
Gelt tags. Brownstein adds a pop of color to her tabletop using a blue favour bundle. She fills a little box using blue jellybeans and ties it together with thin strand and chocolate gelt. “The gelt coin produces a perfect label, and you will likely have a lot around the house anyway,” she says.
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Gelt to go. For the easiest gelt prefer packaging, find takeout boxes on your preferred colours. “Tie a small bow around the handle; it reveals only a touch of this handmade,” Novak says. “I really like packaging,” she adds. “The packaging is as important as the present it comprises.”
Rita from Design Megillah
A dreidel-filled blossom vase. For her Hanukkah table, Brownstein matches a flower vase with four bags of gold dreidels.
Rita from Design Megillah
Dreidel gift bundles. Brownstein also perks up a nearby shelf using little dreidel-shaped present bundles she produced using scrapbook paper.
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Organic dreidel sack. Novak adds her signature handmade signature using this jute sack. “It makes a great gift box from within the giant dreidel,” she says. “The kids have a great time untying the lace ribbon and figuring out what’s inside of the sack.”
More:
50 Ways to Wrap Holiday Gifts in Style