fbpx

Branching Out for Hanukkah

It’s true what they say — good things do come in small packages.
[additional-authors]
December 12, 2024
Photos by Jonathan Fong

How much do we love Hanukkah? Let us count the ways with this festive Hanukkah countdown branch. Eight little wrapped boxes hang from a branch, and each night of Hanukkah one of the gifts gets to be opened. It’s true what they say — good things do come in small packages.

What you’ll need:

8 small boxes with gifts inside
Wrapping paper
Tape
Ribbon
Branch, about 18 inches
String

1. Gather eight small gift boxes. I bought these at the Container Store, but you can also look in your closets and repurpose any packaging you may find. 

2. Place a gift in each box, and wrap the boxes. 

3. Tie a ribbon vertically around each gift box. The ribbon is more than decorative — it will hold the string that is tied to the branch. 

4. Find a branch that is about 18 inches. You can cut one from your yard or purchase one from the crafts store. You can also use a dowel, long ruler or even a hanger. Tie a piece of string to each end for hanging.

5. Tie a piece of string around the ribbon on each box. Then hang the gift boxes on the branch with the string, spacing them out evenly. 

6. Write a number on each box from one to eight. You can write directly on the package, or write the numbers on paper and glue the numbers to the box. 


Jonathan Fong is the author of “Flowers That Wow” and “Parties That Wow,” and host of “Style With a Smile” on YouTube. You can see more of his do-it-yourself projects at jonathanfongstyle.com.

Did you enjoy this article?
You'll love our roundtable.

Editor's Picks

Latest Articles

Craving Kitsch

Everywhere I turned was another kiosk selling either sticky sweet things or tourist trinkets. I was in tacky heaven and, somehow, it felt great.

Print Issue: Here He Is | February 6, 2026

Former Columbia Professor Shai Davidai became an unlikely Israel activist after Oct. 7, 2023. Now he has started “Here I Am” for Zionist activists who “choose action over outrage and substance over performance.”

The Charm of Shabbat Chamin

Ever since I was a small child, Dafina has been a favorite food. This Moroccan hamim (Shabbat stew) is the ultimate comfort food.

National Bagel and Lox Day

Of course, you don’t need a special holiday to enjoy this classic breakfast, brunch or post-fast holiday dish.

Shai Davidai: Here He Is

Former Columbia Professor Shai Davidai became an unlikely Israel activist after Oct. 7, 2023. Now he has started “Here I Am” for Zionist activists who “choose action over outrage and substance over performance.”

The Jewish Community Lags Behind on Disability Inclusion

As we honor Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance and Inclusion Month, the Jewish community must step up to support its members by making proactive, genuine commitments to inclusion – not because external pressure demands it, but because our values do.

Rosner’s Domain | The West, from Israel

Debates about the West’s collapse will remain muddled until we admit what we are really debating: not the fate of a civilization, but the meaning of its name.

The Shoah Is Not a Parable

To remember the Shoah is not to pound it into a cluster of words that can be used to describe every injustice, but to preserve the weight and meaning of its singularity.

More news and opinions than at a Shabbat dinner, right in your inbox.