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The Holidays are an excellent opportunity to get involved in activities to make the season bright. Some of the suggestions below will take some work, others are simple but really fun to do. Remember... the joy of giving is just as wonderful as the joy of receiving!
Simple Fun Ideas:
Make Popcorn Balls: popcorn's delicious, inexpensive, and quick to make and healthy to eat. There are tons of easy recipes on the Internet on how to make popcorn balls (or caramel corn), and they make wonderful gifts for other people.
Make A Wreath: there are lots of instructions on the Internet on how to do this using the branches of any tree available in your area. You can ornament the wreath with just about anything around the house, and if you really want to get into the Pagan spirit of things, lay it flat on a mantle or table instead of hanging it and add some candles to mark the passage of days/weeks. If using candles, have adult supervision!
Make a Yule Log: again there are lots of sites on the Internet which explain how to make a Yule log. This project also uses candles, so adult supervision is recommended.
Challenging Ideas:
Consider *making* gifts for people this year. Buying gifts is what everyone expects, but this Yule you can do the unexpected by making gifts for people. Santa's elves don't have a monopoly on toymaking. You can make people delicious foods, or games, or toys, or even have your parents help you with more sophisticated gifts. There's an unleashed elf in every parent just waiting to show you how to make something kewl for your friends. You don't have to spend a ton of money on something for it to be valuable to someone else.
Decorate the outside of your house (or your inside rooms) with Yule stuff! Think about decorating the Yule tree in the old fashioned style... with no lights and storebought ornaments, but with homemade ornaments, candles and all sorts of surprises nested within the branches. The Yule tree is one of the oldest Pagan traditions known, and you can get the whole family involved in decorating it with homemade decorations in the traditional manner. Holly and Ivy, pinecones and ribbons, Mistletoe and Poinsettias, candles and beads... there's no end to the kinds of things you can decorate your tree with. If candles are involved, have adult supervision!
The economy is rough right now, but that doesn't mean you have to scrimp on holiday cheer. Look back to the old ways of celebrating this season for wonderfully creative ideas and rich traditions to draw from. There's no lack of material and activities waiting to be unleashed on others if you dig deep enough into your own Pagan heritage.
-breeze )O(
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