Three DIY mash-ups for Thanksgivukkah

Spaces Contributor

[Yahoo Homes editor's note: This exclusive post comes to us from Nico Rosso, a novelist who also happens to be a self-taught carpenter. He writes for our partner DoItYourself.com.]

In 2013, two traditions converge for a once-in-a lifetime event when Thanksgiving falls on the first day of Hanukkah. Thanksgivukkah, which comes but once every century or so, hasn’t happened since 1888 and won’t happen again for another 100-plus years. Jump on this rare opportunity to celebrate two holidays at once -- make your own crossover decorations.

1. Decorative Corn Menorah



What would Thanksgiving be without the corn that helped save the Pilgrims from starvation? And what’s Hanukkah without a menorah? Combine the two and you get this decorative corn menorah. On a carved poplar base, complete with a tall cob for the shamash candle, this menorah fits the décor of both the Hanukkah and Thanksgiving table.

Find instructions on DoItYourself.com at http://bit.ly/IndianCornMenorah.

2. Miniature Pumpkin Olive Oil Lamps

One of the central features of the Hanukkah story is the miracle of the oil lamps. And pumpkins were a staple at the Plymouth Plantation. By combining oil with the miniature pumpkin in this simple olive oil lamp, we have a festive, warm light, perfect for gatherings of friends and family, and traditions old or new.

Find instructions on DoItYourself.com at http://bit.ly/PumpkinOliveOilLamps.

3. Thanksgiving/Hanukkah Dessert Dreidel

One fixture to the Hanukkah observance is the dreidel game. It’s played with a simple four-sided top inscribed with a Hebrew letter on each side; the stakes consist of gelt, foil-wrapped pieces of chocolate in the shapes of coins. Combining Jewish traditions with tastes from the traditional Thanksgiving table, this dreidel is marked with gelt, apple pie, doughnuts and pumpkin pie (as well as the traditional Hebrew letters).

Find instructions on DoItYourself.com at http://bit.ly/ThanksgivingDessertDreidel.

Update, Nov. 26, 2013: Because of an editing error, an earlier version of this post said that Thanksgiving 2013 falls on the first night of Hanukkah. The editor, who feels like a real turkey, offers her sincere apologies to the writer and to readers for the mistake.