Chanukah Bar or Bat Mitzvah

This theme is perfect for a Bar or Bat Mitzvah falling during or close to Chanukah! You can choose any color scheme you'd like for Chanukah. For this party, we're sticking with a traditional blue and white theme.

Chanukah Bar or Bat Mitzvah Invitations
Let everyone know they are invited to a Chanukah party! Use a Chanukah theme invitation for the party, inserted with the formal Bar or Bat Mitzvah invitation. You can also send it after your formal invitation is sent.

A caricature or semi-custom caricature invitation is also a great option for such a special party. They are completely personalized for your child and are great for centerpieces, sign in boards, seating cards and other decorations at your party. Have your child drawn holding a menorah and surrounded by presents and items that represent their interests.

Be sure to add some fun Chanukah confetti to the envelope!

Chanukah Decorations and Party Supplies
Welcome your guests with a a lifesize cutout of your child dressed like a dreidel! Include a speech bubble that say, "Happy Chanukah! Having you here is the best gift of all!" Don't forget to have a sign welcoming everyone to "A Chanukah Mitzvah with (Child's Name)".

In the cocktail area, offer drinks for the adults in blue light up wine glasses. (And make sure that drink is blue!) Blue light up cups are great for the first drinks for the kids. We also love these very popular blue paper straws.

Since Chanukah is such a festive holiday, you'll want your decorations to be equally festive. Buy LOTS of Chanukah wrapping paper and wrap an assortment of different shaped boxes to create presents. Decorate with them around the cocktail area and the party room. Even hang some from the ceiling. If you know your theme a year in advance, go buy your wrapping paper after the holiday is over, when it is all on sale.

Balloons will also add to the fun. Hire a balloon company that can create great blue and white balloon arches and balloon bouquets in the entry, or create them yourself using light blue, dark blue, white and clear latex balloons.

sign in and seating

Have a sign-in board for your child with a the caricature from your invitation. Add something funning to your board like, "Don't dreidel around - quick, leave a message for (Child's Name)."

For seating cards, use a little white box decorated with a blue bow and ribbon and filled with Chanukah gelt. Tag off with a personalized seating card with the guest's name and table number. You can use this seating card ideas for the kids, but there is really no need to do any seating for the kids. They will be too busy table hopping and dancing. Just have a large area of tables set for them.

Remember to place a bouquet of balloons at the sign-in board or at the table with the sign in book and another at the table with your seating cards. You certainly don't want people to miss these special party areas!

party room

You can section the room off: one area for adults; the other for kids. If you are doing this, have a sign at the door to the party room saying,

THIS WAY TO…DREIDEL SECTION - KIDS ONLY
We make 'em, you spin 'em
Adults sit in the the MACCABEE SECTION!

Over the DJ hang a great big sign personalized to say, "A Chanukah Mitzvah! Happy Chanukah From [your child's name]! Let's Dance!" We also like to have balloon towers on either side of the dance floor. (Your balloon company can create these for you.) It would be great to hang more presents over the dance floor! We love a backdrop of this dramatic blue gossamer.

For a Candlelighting, use a large menorah and ask people to light candles on the menorah. Or have a menorah with 13 candles created and put on a large sign. Your candles can be made of Velcro and added to the sign.

Chanukah Table Decorations
Start with table linens in blues, silvers and whites. For adult centerpieces, use gift boxes or other boxes wrapped in Chanukah wrapping paper. Create a tower of gifts with a large bow at the top with balloons coming off of the tower. Use can use the same centerpieces for the kids, or do fabulous balloons bouquets on their tables.

A very cool centerpiece for a Chanukah party is to create a giant dreidel out of foam core and have it laying on its side on the table. Have the top open and as assortment of inexpensive Chanukah toys and candy spilling out of the top. The kids will love this! Here's a picture of a dreidel centerpiece we created for a Chanukah theme Bat Mitzvah.

There are great Chanukah stuffed animals available as well. Use a stuffed animal holding a dreidel with blue and white balloons attached to the animal. Then donate the stuffed animal to local children's hospitals.

For a bright and fun napkin ring, wrap a blue beaded necklace around each napkin. They light up as soon as they are bent though, so make sure someone does this just before the party.

Party Favors
The DJ should pass out blue glow necklaces, sunglasses, blue boas and silver tambourines throughout the evening.

At each place setting, have a dreidel filled with candy. Here are some other great favor ideas for your Chanukah theme Bar or Bat Mitzvah:

Personalized Chanukah theme candy wrappers with either dark or milk chocolate. Or go for a fun Chanukah theme lollipop!
Personalized silver matchboxes to use for candle lighting
Beautiful Chanukah candles
Plant a tree in each guest's name and give them a certificate about the donation.

And, of course, Party411 can help with t-shirts, boxer shorts or any other favor you can think of for your football party! Send us an e-mail for more information on personalized party favors. Happy Chanukah and Mazel Tov , from the Party Girl and the Party-ettes!