And aren't some w/7 candles, some with 9? ;o)

There are nine candles. The eight candles for the days of Chanukah, with the shamash candle (the assistant candle) used to light the others. It's the one that is placed higher than the rest.

ellendi- the wink makes me think patty was referring to the Kwaanza candle lighting tradition. I'm not sure. Patty?

The Chanukah menorah has eight plus the shamash as ellendi said; the weekly menorah has seven candles.

Yes, the Chanukah menorah has 9, the one with 7 as kitchendetective mentioned is the one used year round, and has been a symbol of Israel (similar to the star of David)... and to complete the Chanukah lesson, this holiday is of very minor religious significance, and is NOT in the bible. (the old testament bible which is the bible that Jews call the bible). An early chag sameach happy holiday to all.

I'll play! Here's ours on the shelf with the rest of our "Jew stuff" as we affectionately call everything on display (I'm Jewish, DH is Catholic; we're very accepting of each other's religious backgrounds/beliefs, and DH bought me many of the items on said shelf, so this phrase is sseriously said with affection, and very much tongue-in-cheek!):

(I do need to take a new pic--the Gary Rosenthal seder plate now resides on a custom stand made by GR himself!)

Thanks, cat mom. I'm so happy you decided to play!

It really is a beautiful thing.

There may not be too many responses because it's a little early to pull out our menorahs from storage. But I have been thinking about decorating my mantle so here are mine.

This is my childhood menorah. The candles in the middle always melted by shamash (the candle on top). Since there was no money for a new menorah, it just became part of the celebration.

The is the newer menorah we bought at Crate and Barrel a few years ago togehter. No melting shamash on this one.

These are a collection of Channukah ornaments I have found at Crate and Barrel in the past years. Planning on hanging these on my mantle not sure on what yet. I usually just place them in a bowl on our coffee table. I am going to Crate and Barrel today to see if they have some new ones.

I should learn to proof read.

Cat_mom, I love having those family-only expressions. We don't have enough of them now, but when I was little there was a whole language full of them.

Also when I was little, I knew there were Catholics and Jews and I thought I knew everything. Then we moved to the suburbs and the new neighbors, when I asked them whether they were Catholic or Jewish, answered protestant --what was that?!-- and opened up my little 5-year- old eyes. I still smile to think of it.

Interestingly, the kind neighbor had the old testament name Ruth, one daughter was Judith, and the the other --Mary Ann!

In many Jewish families it is a tradition to have a chanukia for each family member.....so that allows for including the one with the little ballerina girls and the baseball playing boys in the celebration.
I'm not Jewish but my daughter in law is and my son and grandchildren....so I have a small chanuka menorah for when they are here for Christmas and Chanuka falls during that time.

The funny thing is, we are neither of us, very observant/religious (have a similar level of identification with our religions, upbringings, family traditions though), yet to look at our decor (esp the shelf!), you'd think we were.

(DH actually bought me that menorah as a Chanukah gift the year after we got married!)

kitchendetective, ellendi, and sheilauss, thanks for the info.

jerseygirl, the two menorahs you showed couldn't be more different (except for the silver, of course)- but both are elegant, I think. I liked looking at the ornaments, too. A friend bought some ornaments at Target and mentioned there was only one small shelf of Hanukah items.

jamies, I loved your story!

lindac- I never knew that about the chanukias. Thanks for sharing.

cat mom- I am the same way! I am not religious either, but for some reason I like the imagery (a catholic background)
and have pictures of saints, a madonna, etc. (hopefully tasteful).

ok for the moment, too lazy to get out the menorahs. However for some incerdible eye candy, I am linking this artist co-op. Totally eye candy. The page I am linking to is for Chanukah, but they also have just plain pretty stuff like jewelry etc. (I have no connection with the site, but I have ordered a few items from them over the years and was totally pleased).

Here is a link that might be useful: ethnics art co op gorgeous stuff

I gave this to DH the first Chanukah after we were married. I am Catholic; he is Jewish; but we both tend to gravitate towards nature/outdoors more than traditional organized religion so this suits us well.

{{!gwi}}

clubcracker--that is stunning!

JerseyGirl: My parents had the same one, with the lions and the shamash up high. I believe that style was hugely popular starting several generations back. It's also one of the menorah styles featured in an exhibit at the Jewish Museum in New York, one "curated" by artist Maurice Sendak.

Here's Sendak's comment about that menorah:

http://www.thejewishmuseum.org/onlinecollection/object_collection.php?objectid=6104&themeid=1659&view=theme

I love that menorah because, of course, it's what I grew up with and I have a photo of a younger me lighting it, so it holds all my memories of Hanukkah. It now resides with one of my sisters. (I have my Mom's Sabbath candlesticks -- I think I chose the wrong memento! I might have to renegotiate!)

But this link shows what I have now, a glass block menorah (but I got a much better deal on it! :)

Here is a link that might be useful: artful home

Also, for JerseyGirl and everyone else: I was in Target today and I was amazed to see one entire side of a display aisle just with Hanukkah stuff. Mostly candles, but some tablecloths, books, other things. I don't recall seeing that last year or in years past. The most I've seen are a handful of items at Bed Bath & Beyond (the one place I know stocks the more-slender candles I like, not the squat, multicolored ones in the blue box I remember from childhood).

Pammyfay-Wow, thanks for providing the link. I have always loved that menorah. Can't wait to show it to DH. Doesn't it seem so elaborate compared to what is available now? Curious, where did you grow up? I'm from Philadelphia.

Clubcracker, that menorah is absolutely stunning. I'm sure it brings your husband a lot of pleasure and joy each Channukah.

Jerseygirl -- I grew up in Connecticut.

There IS something special about the detail of that menorah!