Santa has always been a very special part of Christmas for me. My mother was a Santa “collector” and his cheery face was everywhere in our home during the holidays. My sister is partial to snowmen in all shapes and sizes. So making and decorating cookies that depict these two symbols of the holiday season is something I just can’t resist. I love the joy they embody and the smiles they bring to everyone’s face. From the goofy mustaches and full beards to the knit hats and sparkling sugar, Santa and Snowmen are on my list of must-have Christmas cookies.

Christmas and cookies are a match made in heaven. There are so many possibilities...and so little time once the season begins. Every year I want to make every cookie cutter shape I have, from angels to zebras, and decorate them for the happiest time of the year. Although I like to use the traditional color scheme of red and green, other color combinations make for sweet treats, too. Like aqua and orange, pure white with eye-catching accents, even pink and blue! And the plate of cookies for Santa has to be extra special and delicious.

When it’s time to put up the Christmas tree every year, I must confess that it does not have a theme or a dominant color palette. And I don’t even hang the same ornaments every year. Oh, there are a few favorites, like those that remind me of special people and events, new babies, and beloved pets. The final touch always involves hanging a lot of long crystal ice cycles that twinkle as they reflect the tiny lights that wind around the tree. Each year the tree looks familiar, but slightly different. But there’s always a tree at Christmas.

Several years ago I bought some old-fashioned tin animal cookie cutters in a local antique store with no real idea in mind of how I’d use them. They were larger than I normally use, but I liked their shapes and the variety of animals. I finally brought them out for my “Christmas Comes to the Zoo” project and they became some of my favorite shapes ever.

Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is an eight-day festival that involves food, prayer, dancing, oil, candles...and cookies, of course!