The holiday season is upon us. Are you looking for a great new family tradition to start? No matter if you celebrate, Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa or another holiday your family will have fun making these.
This year we've added a new holiday tradition to our house that I love. Instead of store-bought candles, we decided to make our own. We buy a special candle-making kit, which means there is no muss, no fuss and - best of all . . . no big clean up. This craft is so easy and fun for all ages even the littles - and a great new tradition for our family that your family can try too! Don't worry if you can't find a kit, you can typically buy sheets of beeswax & cotton string at your local crafts store or online. These make a great gift as well.
 Ellen DeFrancesco |
What you need:
- Beeswax candles with string or Kit to make Candles, you can even find ones that are holiday specific
- Parchment Paper
- Cotton string for your wick, included in the kits
- Optional: Foil
Remember: If you are making them for the 8-nights of Hanukkah you'll need to make at least 44 - you might want to make a few extras just in case. If you use individual sheets instead of a kit you will need to figure out the best size and then make a template for the rest of the candles.
 man_kukuku from Getty Images via Canva |
Directions:
- Put parchment paper down on the table to keep from getting wax on the surface, it can be sticky.
- Place a string / wick the length of the beeswax on one end of the beeswax candle.
- Press the string down gently and then roll the beeswax as tight as you can.
- Once rolled, place on the table and roll it back and forth a few times to create a circular shape to fit into your menorah, kinara or candle holder.
TIP: To keep candles from tipping inside the menorah or other candle holder, when you light the candle melt the bottom part just a little and let a few drops of wax fall into the hole. Then place the candle in the hole. Or you can also line the menorah or candle holders holes with foil, which keeps candles in place and also helps in easy cleanup.
For more holiday fun check out these guides:
- Hanukkah Events for your Family in Conejo Valley - Malibu - Calabasas
- Family Christmas Guide: Unforgettable Celebrations & Joyful Traditions
- Happy Kwanzaa | Learn and Celebrate with your Kids
Ellen DeFrancesco is the publisher of Macaroni KID Long Beach-Oceanside-Rockville Centre, N.Y.
