In Israel these craft ideas are very common around Hanukah time and many craft and Dollar stores sell sets of craft materials for kindergartens and parents to buy for kids.

Crafts using the Hanukah Jug

Jewish kids learn that a long time ago the Greeks ruled in Israel and they wanted the Jews to conform to the Greek way of worship and so the Greeks destroyed the Temple in Jerusalem. A small jug was found with just enough oil in it to light the Temple Menorah (candelabra) for 8 days, this is why we celebrate Hanukah for 8 days and nights, and also why a jug is one of the Hanukah symbols.

Around Hanukah small clay jugs are made by kids out of craft clay, fimo or pottery clay.

Clay and plastic jugs can be bought plain and then decorated and painted by kids as a Hanukah craft or Hanukah gift.

A small clay jug can be broken and then the kid's stick the jug back together as if they were archeologist. After this the jug can also be painted.

Hanukah crafts using the Hanukah Menorah

Over Hanukah in Israel many schools and kindergartens have competitions for the best menorah and kids are encouraged to make a Menorah out of anything and everything. You can see amazing creations made of toys, candy, recycled bottles, lids, paper, sticks, toilet rolls, chess pieces, wood, plastic, stones, clay, toy cars, dolls, boxes in fact the stranger the better! Of course most of these Hanukah Menorahs are not used they are just put on display.

Menorah made of metal, wood or plastic can also be bought and decorated and painted by kids for a Hanukah craft.

Dollar stores sell sponges in the shape of a Menorah and kids can dip the sponge in paint put it on paper and then make a stencil like paining with it.

Candle craft projects

Candles became associated with Hanukah craft projects because of their connection with light and also because of the eight candles lit on the Menorah.

There are kits for making candles out of sheets of bee's wax, these come with all the necessary wicks and are easily made by simply rolling up the wax sheets around the wick.

Alternatively you can do-it-yourself, and melt down some old crayons, then pour the melted wax into a greased cup or container. Place a wick (which can be bought at a craft store) in the middle of the container. Once the wax dries you can turn the candle out and you have a perfect gift to give at Hanukah.

Hanukah craft projects using oil

Although oil is usually used for Hanukah food and not so much for Hanukah crafts you can still find ways to incorporate it into a Hanukah craft. Oil or something greasy can be used to make patterns on a page and then the kids can paint over the page and see how the oil design stands out. Oil can also be put in a plastic drinking bottle with water and some food coloring. When the bottle is shaken it produces beautiful patterns.

Hanukah craft projects using light

Stained glass windows can be created as a Hanukah craft using black craft paper and colored cellophane. Get the kids to cut shapes or a picture out of the black paper, leaving black paper between each space that has been cut out. Then get the kids to stick pieces of colored cellophane over the gaps that have been cut out. Once the "stained glass window" is ready stick it on a window and watch the light shine through.

Paper lanterns are another popular Hanukah craft project although no actual light is put inside them. Take a piece of A4 size paper and cut lines along the width of the paper at even intervals of about an inch, leave about an inch on either side of the cuts. This should look a little like a ladder. Then bend the paper into a cylinder shape and staple together. The cuts you made will open up and it will look like a lantern.

You can think up more Hanukah craft projects by using the Hanukah symbols as a starting point.