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Creating the Perfect Christmas
Christmas isn’t cancelled! Take a look at our top tips on making your home feel festive throughout 2020. Creating the Perfect Christmas CONTINUED OVER THE PAGE
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It’s official, Christmas 2020 won’t be like any Christmas you’ve ever had, but that doesn’t mean it has to be cancelled. There are many ways that you can still get into the spirit without feeling like you’re missing out. Spread the festive cheer in your home with our ways to keep Christmas alive.
Light it up One of the magical things about the run up to Christmas Day is seeing all the houses lit up with sparkling lights. A favourite memory of mine when I was little was going the street where every house was lit up with Christmas lights and seeing all the elaborate decorations adorning their front lawns. During the first lockdown in March, teddies and toys were placed in windows to brighten up passers-by on their daily walks. Not only to put a smile on people’s faces, but also a lovely game for children to tick off their favourites. Why not, for December, place a few decorations on your window sill, or if you’re feeling really adventurous, place an inflatable snowman or Santa Claus on your front drive for the ultimate festive Christmas display. Lighting up the front of your house can be daunting when thinking of electricity bills, but a lot of decorations now are made with LED’s, so all you’ll need to buy are a good set of batteries to keep them going through December. There are some wonderful examples on www.lightsforfun.co.uk including an acrylic family of reindeers that light up with icy white LEDs. If turning your house into Blackpool illuminations isn’t your thing, go for a family walk instead and spot your favourite decorations. I always know when Christmas has begun, when the giant inflatable penguin appears on the neighbours drive.
Make your own decorations Every year, we look at what the latest Christmas trends are, walk around the shops and pick our new favourite bauble or garland, yet you’re still up a ladder year after year, getting the old decorations down from the loft. They hold sentimental value from times gone by; reminding you of people you’ve lost over the years or simply because they make you smile. Make your own decorations for your own tree, or give your family them as gifts to hang in their homes. A reminder year on year that someone took the time to create something especially for you. A few simple items from a craft store and let your imagination run wild.
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It could be something as simple as a cotton wool snowman, a paper snowflake or a few coloured pom poms. You could even turn your favourite photo into a tree decoration, by placing it in a DIY plastic bauble.
Candles Candles can instantly give you a warm and cosy feeling, perfect for creating a festive display or a magical centrepiece for your table. The soft glow of a candle has been a Christmas tradition for centuries, reminding us of the coming spring during the winter solstice. A common sight in churches, one of the first records of candles being used at Christmas was during the middle ages where a candle was used to represent the star of Bethlehem. Candles are important in many religions during December. The Jewish festiva of Hanukkah remembers the rededication of the second Jewish Temple in Jerusalem, in Israel. You can start your own tradition by lighting a candle to represent something that is meaningful to you.
Christmas wreath Wreaths are using throughout all of the Christian denominations but they were started by the Lunterans in germany in the 16th Century to mark the start of Advent. All advent wreaths, however, have four candles, and many of them have a white candle in the centre; the Christ candle, which is lit on Christmas Day. The evergreens used in a Christmas wreath represent everlasting life brought through Jesus and the circular shape of the wreath represents God, with no beginning and no end. There are many tutorials online about how you can make your own wreath, adding in evergreen leaves and pine cones that you can find on winter woodland walks. Twist the bracken around a wire frame, then add LED candles to light throughout advent..You can make them personalised to you in any way by adding bows, small figures, dried fruit, toys, even sweets!
Christmas gifts If you have an eye for all things crafty, then the perfect solution is to make your own gifts this year. Set aside a day where you can create something special for your friends and family. is there a skill you’ve learnt in 2020 that you can show off on Christmas morning? Maybe you’ve tried your hand at knitting or crocheting or even become a dab hand at watercolour painting. This doesn’t have to be extravagant or time consuming, it could be something as simple as making a personalised card. A day with the family making little gifts for your close family by the tree could be what really gets you into the festive spirit.
Spice it up Fill your home with the smell of all the Christmas spices to really set the scene. Not only will they smell delicious but they each has their own special properties that help with stress and digestion:
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Anise: This spice comes ground or in whole seeds and is found in gingerbread, honey cake and biscuits. Anise calms the stomach and the intestines.
Cloves: Dried flower buds can help strengthen the stomach and relieve bloating.They’re also the perfect addition to a mulled wine!
Allspice: A rich flavour found in many dishes and is a combination of nutmeg, cloves, pepper and cinnamon. The oils contained in the allspice help digestion and has a relaxing effect.
Ginger: The spicy taste of ginger is can be added to biscuits to give it a warming effect. It also provides many anti-imflammatory substances.
Cinnamon: Cinnamon comes from the dried bark strips, bark powder and flowers of a small tree. Perfect for biscuits and cakes, cinnamon has a sweet and woody flavour, slightly spicy and with a hint of citrus.
Nutmeg: This spice is also often found in biscuits. It has a calming effect and should be used in moderation. celebrating in large groups is your usual way of celebrating, there are still many ways of being able to stay connected during lockdown restrictions. A Skype call or Zoom meeting might not seem like your idea of a fun Christmas, for most of us however it may be the only way we get to see our loved ones. You can even play interactive games through a Zoom call. All your favourite seasonal classics like Pictionary, Guess Who? and Taboo are now available to play whilst on a video call as well as a simple game of Rummy with a set of playing cards.
Stay positive Most of all this Christmas, take time to try to remember the positives that have come out of 2020. Maybe there has been a new arrival to the family, you’ve met someone new or simply been moved by something small that you wouldn’t have noticed in your otherwise hectic and busy life. For those who are struggling, seek solace in a friend or visit www.mind.org for some tips how to get yourself through the Christmas period. n By Daisy Bennett
Merry Christmas to all of our readers
Worcestershire Now
Rachel Seabright Tel: 01905 727900 Email: rachel@pw-media.co.uk
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