Three Ways to DIY a Last-minute Menorah

Credit: Amanda Blum

On Thursday night, Hannukah begins. If you are on your own for the first time this year and don’t have a menorah yet, or if you want to show your Jewish friends some support by putting a menorah in your window—or if you simply can't find yours—here are some ways to construct one last minute. 

An intro to menorahs

Before you get started, there are a few key things you need to know about menorahs.

Menorahs have eight main arms, each holding a candle. The ninth candle, the Shamesh, stands slightly separated from the others, usually in the middle or at the end of the other candles. As the story goes, this commemorates the eight nights that the oil stayed lit, despite there only being enough oil for one night. Each of the eight candles is lit with the Shamesh, or “helper” candle, but it’s important that it not be confused with the other eight. 

Candles for Hannukah are designed to burn at least 30 minutes, but the longer they burn beyond that is considered a "mitzvah," or good luck. Rather than use regular candles, most people buy a set of Hannukah candles that have exactly the right amount for the whole year. These are thinner than most candles and look like elegant, long birthday candles. Either wax candles or oil can be used, but since the miracle of Hannukah involved olive oil, it’s preferable to use oil. Menorahs are designed to be placed in your window, so they demand to be seen, and the candles are traditionally lit at sunset, not before. On the first night of Hannukah, one candle plus the Shamesh is lit; on the second night, two candles plus the Shamesh, and so on. Candles are lit from left to right. 

To make your own menorah, keep in mind that it should burn for 30 minutes, and that the eight candles should sit evenly with each other. Since those are the only main considerations, you can be pretty creative in crafting your own. 

How to make your own menorah

Nuts and Bolts

Bolts make terrific, low-profile candle holders for a menorah. You’re likely to have them around, and if not, can buy them cheaply. You’ll want nine of them, lined up side-by-side. An old hack to get candles to stay in place is to melt the end just enough for a bit of wax to drip into the spot you want the candle to go, and then quickly put the candle down in the melted wax, and hold it while the wax cools quickly. 

Tin foil

A menorah doesn’t have to look nice, it just has to work. Tin foil is going to stay put and can easily be molded in any way you need it to. Twist a long sheet of tin foil into a coil and then snake it back and forth, creating spaces for to wedge candles in. Between each twist, place a candle. Roll the end a bit to make a special spot for the Shamesh. Push the tin foil onto the table, and everything should stay put. Best of all, you barely need to clean up. 

Shot glasses and mason jars

You likely have enough of one or the other, but if you can line up enough of the same-sized glasses or mason jars, you can make your own oil-burning candles with cotton cord and oil or wax. Most craft stores have wax beads, and you can simply pour them into the glasses to hold the wick in place. If you use oil, hold the wick in place using some tin foil or a paperclip.