Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, lasts eight nights, and many families gather for at least one festive dinner: latkes with applesauce and sour cream, brisket, sufganiyot, dreidel games, and the lighting of the menorah. This place card brings the central symbol of the holiday to every seat. A navy menorah with nine candles and glowing golden flames stands along the bottom of a crisp white front, and the back is a deep blue patterned with soft stars. It is graceful, clear, and joyful.
A Menorah Along the Foot of the Card
The card is 3.5 x 4 inches flat and 3.5 x 2 inches folded. The front is white. Along the bottom, a navy menorah, called a hanukkiah, rises from a flat base and a short stem into a smooth arc of branches. Nine pale blue candles stand on top, with the centre candle, the shamash or helper candle, set higher than the other eight, and each candle has a golden flame. Above it, Happy Hanukkah is written in spaced navy capitals in Cormorant Garamond, the name Rebecca Levin appears in navy italic, and · table 4 · sits underneath in soft blue italic. A light blue line runs along the fold. The back is navy, covered in a pattern of pale blue four-point stars, with the logo in silver.
The Star Pattern Is a Background Texture
The back’s star pattern is one of the editor’s built-in background textures, 4 Point Stars, in pale blue over navy. To change it, open Backgrounds and choose Pattern: you can switch it to silver or gold, change the size of the stars, fade it, or choose another pattern. The white front panel sits above the texture, so it only appears on the back. Some families prefer a pattern of six-pointed stars; you can add Star of David icons from the editor’s library on the back panel instead and remove the texture.
Why Nine Branches
A Hanukkah menorah has nine branches: eight for the eight nights of the festival and a ninth, the shamash, used to light the others. It is usually placed at a different height so it stands apart. The menorah on this card follows that tradition, with the shamash in the centre, set higher. Families sometimes print the night of the festival on the card, such as Fourth Night of Hanukkah, and light the same number of candles on the table menorah.
Adding Names and the Night of Hanukkah
- Click the italic name and type your guest’s name.
- Edit the table line, or replace it with the night: Fifth Night of Hanukkah.
- Download the card.
- Repeat for each guest at the table.
You can also add a Hebrew greeting such as Chag Sameach (happy holiday) as a second small line under the name.
Hanukkah Greetings
| Greeting | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Happy Hanukkah | The most common English greeting |
| Chag Sameach | Happy holiday |
| Chag Urim Sameach | Happy Festival of Lights |
| Hanukkah Sameach | Happy Hanukkah in Hebrew |
| Freilichen Chanukah | Happy Hanukkah in Yiddish |
Recolouring the Menorah
The menorah, candles, and flames are a group of simple shapes. Ungroup it to change the navy to silver or gold, or to make the candles white or multicoloured, like the boxed candles many families use. The flames can be made brighter orange for more glow. Keep the shamash slightly taller than the other candles so the meaning stays clear.
Printing Blue and White
Blue and white print cleanly on almost any printer. Use bright white cardstock to keep the front crisp, and a matte setting at normal or high quality for the navy back. The thin candle details and flames need decent print quality; avoid draft mode.
Folding Along the Blue Line
Trim to 3.5 x 4 inches, score along the light blue line, and fold with the menorah facing out. Set the card above each plate, perhaps next to a small chocolate gelt coin or a dreidel.
A Festival of Lights Table
White and blue linens, silver candlesticks, a centrepiece menorah, bowls of gelt and dreidels scattered down the table create a festive setting. Blue hydrangeas or white roses in silver vases add elegance. After dinner, the dreidels at each seat make it easy to start a game.
Dreidel Game Tie-In
Write the four Hebrew letters of the dreidel (nun, gimel, hey, and shin) on the inside of a few cards. Guests who find a letter on their card start the dreidel game, or win an extra piece of gelt. It is a small surprise that gets children involved.
Shabbat, School Parties and Interfaith Dinners
The design suits Shabbat dinners, synagogue Hanukkah parties, school holiday events, and interfaith holiday season dinners where the card sits alongside Christmas and Kwanzaa designs. Change the headline to the event.
Planning a Hanukkah Dinner
Hanukkah dinners are often held on the first night or the weekend that falls during the festival. Plan to light the menorah before the meal, when everyone has arrived, so the seating chart and cards guide guests to the table right afterwards. Fried foods such as latkes and sufganiyot are traditional, recalling the miracle of the oil, so seat the cook near the kitchen where the latkes come hot from the pan. For families with young children, place them where they can see the candles but out of reach of the flames.
Hanukkah Card Questions
Can I add a Star of David?
Yes. Add one from the editor’s library above the headline or on the back panel.
Why can’t I select the stars on the back?
They are a page background texture; edit them in Backgrounds, Pattern.
What size is the folded card?
3.5 inches wide and 2 inches tall.
Can the candles be multicoloured?
Yes. Ungroup the menorah and give each candle its own colour, like a box of Hanukkah candles.
Is the card suitable for a children’s Hanukkah party?
Yes. Switch the name to a rounder font such as Fredoka and add a dreidel icon beside the menorah.
Can I print it in silver and white?
Change the navy elements to a mid-grey and the background to pale grey for a silver-and-white version.
