While Christmas décor seems to take precedence on store shelves during the holiday season, Hanukkah items are a stalwart presence. Contemporary designs for the Jewish holiday are becoming more diverse with bolder color palettes. Traditional icons remain the most important aspect, with menorahs and dreidels taking center stage.
"The Hanukkah celebration has also adapted to the wider culture of gift giving and decorations," Fred Pannek, vice president/product development at Mud Pie, states. Pannek notes that these new traditions include decorations for the home, as well as a transformation of gelt (Yiddish for Hanukkah money) into an exchange of gifts on each of the eight nights.
"While the holiday's new customs are found in the time-honored shades of white, blue and silver, along with popular motifs of menorahs, dreidels and more, they can also be found to reflect and incorporate trends from the wider society," Pannek points out. "For example, today's popular holiday styles include whimsical themes in polka dots and stripes as well as a variation in colors with lime green and pink."
It is not uncommon to see Hanukkah ornaments hanging on a Christmas tree and manufacturers are jumping on the intercultural bandwagon. "With there being so many marriages with mixed religions, we find that many Jewish people now have Christmas trees and they are looking to have representation of their faith," Louise Tinagero, marketing manager of Kurt S. Adler, notes. Kurt S. Adler has expanded its Hanukkah offerings with a three-piece set of Jewish ornaments. The 31/2– to 41/2-inch
tall adornments include a menorah, Star of David plus dreidel.
Year-round Christmas retailers are finding that it's important to incorporate some Hanukkah offerings into their inventory. As more traditionally Christmas-oriented companies expand their religious holiday skus, store owners can easily add more diversity to their own stock as well. "We don't have a large selection of just Hanukkah items," Mel Bilbo, president of Branson, Mo.-based Kringles Christmas Store, admits. "But if a particular company makes Hanukkah ornaments, we'll group them in with the rest of that line." Bilbo names the Christopher Radko collection as an example of a business that offers both Christmas and Hanukkah keepsakes that he displays together.
For 2010, Mud Pie has released its Happy Chanukah collection which includes a cocktail napkin and spreader set. The menorah spreader boasts fun festive colors with a grosgrain bow top stating "Celebrate." It includes 20 three-ply napkins plus ceramic handle spreader and comes in an acetate gift box with ribbon accents.
