Sukka Decorations

Growing up making the sukka decorations has always been my favorite part of the holiday (besides eating and sleeping in the sukka). While the boys in the neighborhood were getting splinters in their fingers from all the wood they were stealing from construction sites (part of the holiday tradition in Israel), me and a few other friends were getting paper cuts while making   m   i   l   e   s   of paper chain links, lanterns, and “snowflakes” cut out to beautify our sukka. 30 years later I enjoy it just as much, the only difference is that now I have some design background to refer to and a child (Zoe) who loves making things even more than I do.   

‘Snowflakes’

(made by Zoe)

We were using coffee filters for this because the filters are very thin therefore easy to cut, and very absorbent and durable which is great for coloring with water colors. But you can use any other paper for that matter (used magazines are perfect for all sukka decorations).

Fold the paper on it self 3 times till you get a ‘thin slice of pizza’. Start cutting shapes out. You can have random designs or specific designs such as figures, doves, hearts, stars, pomegranates etc. Open the paper up. We always say WOW, Its really fun to see what comes out.
After you are done cutting you may add colorful paper underneath or just pin on the sukka walls as is.

To get inspired you may want to check out some Kirigami reference books. Kirigami is the Japanese art of folding and cutting paper.

Lanterns
Our lanterns were an extension of the kirigami work that we have been doing. We took a large tissue paper, the kind you rap gifts with. We went through the same process as we did for the snowflakes; we put extra attention on trimming the edges. After opening the paper and saying WOW (again)….we draped it over a cone we made of construction paper and hung it in our sukka. What we did was very fast and simple but the effect was similar to the light 'midsummer' designed by the Dutch designer Tord Boontje. (see below)

(made by Zoe and mom)

(designed by Tord Boontje)

Paper chain link
A must have sukka decorations, done ‘traditionally’ with used magazines. The chain link symbolizes the chains of slavery that were removed from the Israelites in Egypt when they were set free by Moses back in the days.

Have fun.