Today I asked Lory at Designthusiasm to share how she decorates and celebrates Hanukkah. I’m so excited she’s here!
Borrowed Traditions
Blue and white is one of the most popular combinations in home decor. It also happens to be the pairing most associated with Hanukkah. If you’re looking for new design ideas, sometimes it helps to look in new places. One such place to look would be at other people’s holiday customs. Today I’d like to talk about borrowed traditions and using blue and white decor.
I’m Lory and I blog at Designthusiasm.com. I am delighted to have been invited to guest post at Cedar Hill Farmhouse, one of my very favorite blogs! Let’s look at some of the design ideas I use in my Hanukkah celebrations and peek into the traditions that inform those decor decisions. You will see how I borrow from other cultures and how you can apply these ideas to your own decor.
Tiffany Blue
My style can be summed up as French Country with a touch of casual elegance. I tend to decorate conceptually, so each of my styled spaces is influenced by an idea. In these first two photos I was inspired by Tiffany blue, the color that reminds us of that icon’s old-school elegance.
Blues look wonderful balanced against silver, and the shimmer of the silvered bow, satin ribbon and the glittered box give this vignette a festive holiday feel. The French cane back chair and the simple quilted tablecloth keep the look from going over the top.
Hanukkah is a holiday that celebrates overcoming oppression, when a small army of Jews were victorious over an aggressor. The menorah is a candelabra that signifies the Hanukkah miracle, as the oil in the Temple menorah stayed lit for 8 days, despite there being only enough oil left to burn for one day.
This beautiful silver menorah is one I found in Jerusalem and the use of blue in Jewish celebrations comes from the indigo dye that was used in ancient prayer shawls. You’ll also notice jelly donuts on the table in the background, as part of our Hanukkah tradition is to eat foods cooked in oil.
If you love the look of Tiffany blue, you may be wondering how this idea can apply to you. Perhaps if Easter is a holiday you celebrate, you can use this lovely combination as it’s similar to robin’s egg blue. To see more of this Tiffany blue you can visit: Elegant Hanukkah Decor Using Tiffany Blue
Don’t forget my giveaway going on this month. Any comment automatically enters you to win!!
Blue and White Chinoiserie
Another one of my favorite concepts for blue and white decor is chinoiserie. In this Hanukkah vignette I’ve actually borrowed from several other traditions to incorporate into my own. The first, of course, is the Asian art of blue painted pottery, which is also commonly seen in French decor.
Additionally, I’ve borrowed from the Christmas custom of using holiday ornaments, but I found some that utilized my chinoiserie theme, including these adorable pagodas.
Once again I mixed the blue and white with silver accents and kept my florals in the same color feeling. The pancakes you see on the little plate are “latkes”, another traditional food prepared in oil. For more on using blue and white chinoiserie see: Using Blue and White Chinoiserie for Holiday Decorations.
Country French Tea
As I mentioned above, I’m a huge fan of French Country decor and I can pretty much turn any holiday into a Country French celebration. In this Hanukkah tea, set by the fireplace, I’ve mixed lovely vintage elements like the silver teapot and demi tasse cups with blue and white staples such as the floral sugar and creamer. The country plaid pillow enhances the look, while the dreidel salt & pepper set and Star of David cookies, remind us of the Hanukkah occasion.
I’ve done the same look for Christmas celebrations and you can try this in your home with red and white transferware and red tartan plaids. The French chairs were my grandmother’s and the table is vintage. For more on this look go to: Setting a Country French Hanukkah Tea by the Hearth.
Candlelit Dinner
You may have heard Hanukkah called the Festival of Lights. This is because of the importance of the candlelight symbolism. It is also a holiday that is meant to be celebrated at home, so I’ve styled a dinner table that is centered around that light.
From the flickering glow of the candles themselves, to the shimmer of silver that reflects the light, there’s plenty of holiday bling on this celebratory table. Glittered pillar candles, mercury glass plates, silver woven placemats and holiday ornaments all add to the joyous sentiment.
This one is a no brainer to utilize in your decor, because candles, and lights in general, are already a huge part of Christmas decorating. But why not consider using various candelabras to take that look to the next level. To see all the details from this tablescape, visit: Candlelit Festival of Lights Hanukkah Tablescape.
French Toile Table Setting
This final look is probably my favorite, because to me it reads as the most French. I’m absolutely in love with French toile and I’ve used a toile blanket as a tablecloth underpinning. The pretty blue plates are specifically made for Hanukkah, with tiny Stars of David laced into the pattern, yet they appear to have a completely French Country character. Cut crystal stemware, embroidered linens, glimmered napkin rings and embellished silver chargers all come together to deliver a beautiful holiday table.
This new menorah fits perfectly with this table, gem encrusted with filigree detail. Blue hydrangeas are added as a lush final touch. This is certainly a look that can be adapted for any occasion and would look wonderful used for a spring celebration. For more on this table including sources, see: French Blue and White Holiday Table Setting with Toile.
Thank you for visiting and letting me share my holiday traditions with you! Before you go, I’d like to invite you into my home to see my house tour. You can see that below by clicking on the link or the photo. I wish you a wonderful holiday, a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
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Blue and white is so refreshing after the heavier tones of Christmas decor.
I love this.
Love this posting thank you both for sharing.
I love Lory’s style! It’s downright romantic.
I love blue and white and appreciate learning some of the Hanukkah traditions. Every picture is lovely. Thank you.
I love how you decorate with meaning and purpose. i never tire of blue, white, and silver. Very well done.
French Toile Table Setting is BEAUTIFUL – I need this setting at my house as I’m decotaing in French Counrty motif LOVE LOVE LOVE
Again, another beautiful idea!
Keep them coming!
Deb
This was a very good vision of how beautiful blue, white, silver and tradition flow so exquisitely. Really enjoyed this.
Beautiful table. The Menorah is delicate and lace-like. Enjoyed this visit very much. Happy New Year.
This was most spectacular…we, too, celebrate Hanukkah and it’s so very nice for this decor to be featured. Kudos!
This is a gorgeous Hanukkah tribute . It was a beautiful birthday present to me today. I have been sick through Christmas and I toda you for this amazing beauty. The truest beauty is that God saved the Jews through the little band of Maccabees against Antiochus, who was murdering and desecrating their temple with a pig sacrificied to Zeus on the altar in the Holy Temple of the Jews. Just like today thousands of years later there are still people trying to wipe the Israelites off the earth today. Anti semitisim is alive and well on planet earth, but God said He would bless those who bless them and curse those who curse them. I stand with Israel the only democracy and freedom of religion , women’s rights etc. in the whole middle east! We should be exalting them and praising them helping them ,loving them . You are not alone Israel . Stand up for freedom and life not death and destruction America. By the way Jews invented cell phones computers and many amazing medical technologies; too many to mention. So thank a Jew for all you enjoy especially now.
Love your silver accents with the blue! The checkered picture in silver frame ?Caught my attention!
This is beautiful. I like seeing other people’s traditions. Thanks for sharing. Happy Hannukah! Shalom.
Wonderful article regarding Chanukah, have not seen anything so relevant and clever before. Needless to say, have not considered any of the suggestions before and looking forward to incorporating some of the ideas in the future. Thank you for once again bringing your beautiful ideas into my home.
The table settings and mantle are just beautiful. I love blue and white together.
Love this informative posting & the beautiful H-tablescapes. I have several Jewish friends & I am delighted to learn more about how they celebrate. Thank you.
White Blue lovely Thanks !
I love it all. Thanks for sharing, and happy new year
Blue and white; yes, yes, yes! And what a lovely way to celebrate Hanukkah traditions. Thank you for sharing and inspiring.
Everything is so lovely and elegant. Thanks for sharing. Wishing you and yours a blessed,healthy and happy 2017.
Marilyn and family
Thank you so much, Anita, for giving me the privilege to guest post on your blog! And a special thanks to all of your readers for visiting and for leaving such lovely comments! It was a pleasure to share my traditions with such a welcoming bunch… 🙂
Even though this beautiful example of home decor is geared toward Hanukah…..I love blue and white Christmas decor. This gave me great ideas for next year. Thank you
Helen, Little Rock, AR
Thank you for having Lory visit with her beautiful decor. Such soothing colors after the harried rate which can be the holidays. I want to reach right into my screen and grab those latkes! They look scrumptious !!
I enjoyed this post so much. I love the rich religious history Hanukkah represents and how to lend a contemporary twist to the blue and white theme. The blue and white table settings are not at all difficult to duplicate, and the traditional recipes prepared for Hanukkah can easily be found in cook books. Hanukkah is such a beautiful celebration of thankfulness and life.
The blue and white plaid is very exciting.
My Chanukah Bush/Christmas tree is all in blue and white.
One year I did one (Chanukah Bush )in blue and purple that my late husband (G-d bless him) put outside for me to which there is a great story attached.
I love the Toile pillows. Do you offer them?
And…that is one of the prettiest Chanukah Menorah’s I’ve ever seen
Thanks for the good posting this information.I have read your article briefly.