Buzz
Red and green have become so closely linked with Christmas that any tree adorned in different hues might feel like an act of defiance. Hanukkah, too, has its own distinct color theme: blue and white, or occasionally blue and silver, often dominate its festive decorations and symbols.
A key reason blue and white are so closely tied to Hanukkah is due to the Israeli flag, designed by the Zionist movement in 1891 and officially adopted in 1948. The flag’s blue stripes are inspired by the tallitot, traditional Jewish prayer shawls worn during synagogue services, bar and bat mitzvahs, and weddings. These blue stripes are a reflection of the commandment in the Bible, where the Israelites were instructed to dye a thread on their tassels with tekhelet, a blue dye derived from a sea snail, 'so that they may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the LORD, and do them.'
In 1864, the Jewish poet Ludwig August Frankl described blue and white as 'the colors of Judah' in his poem, 'Judah’s Colours.' An excerpt reads: 'When sublime feelings his heart fill, he is mantled in the colors of his country ... Blue and white are the colors of Judah; white is the radiance of the priesthood, and blue, the splendors of the firmament.'
Blue and white carry powerful universal meanings. White is often linked with purity, peace, and light, while blue evokes associations with the sky, faith, wisdom, and truth. (After all, the phrase 'true blue' exists for a reason.)
What about the silver accents we often find in Hanukkah decorations? Some believe that the holidays deserve a touch of sparkle, and the widespread use of silver menorahs only adds to the allure. It’s clear that blue and white are not just the colors of Hanukkah—they hold symbolic significance throughout the year.
