Simple seasonal pleasures may bring comfort
This may be the year to add some old-fashioned magic to the holidays. As the home and tree trimming begin, many folks are also forced to trim the budgets and their Christmas lists to ease the strain of a tough year, economically.
But the magic should never be trimmed, unless it is with pine boughs. Maybe those who lived in simpler times enjoyed their Christmases even more because of the humble pleasure it brought to their lives. For too many families today, the holidays mean strain and chaos.
Ask an adult about their favorite childhood Christmas, and often they will remember the simplicity, and the feelings that were created by simple things.
Consider the fuss. Is it worth it? Here are a few old-fashioned suggestions that might make a humbling year less stressful, and might even offer a more joyful Christmas season. Most encourage using the human senses.
• “Sleigh bells ring; Are you listening?” Dangle a strip of simple sleigh bells to a home’s doorknob to create a pleasant Christmas sound. It may just create the memories of tomorrow for little ones.
• Fulfill the holiday dreams of a child that isn’t yours.
• Have a simple tree for children to hang cookie cutters (or real cookies), candy canes or their own simple handmade ornaments. And help them string popcorn for the small tree — they will love it. Show them that simple treasures bring simple pleasures.
• Hold a classic Christmas-film fest. Watch “The Christmas Carol,” “It’s a Wonderful Life,” “Miracle on 34th Street,” and others that may return a more meaningful atmosphere of Christmas.
• Read simple versions of Christmas stories to your children, or your grandchildren, or your neighbor’s children.
• Bring something simple, but wonderful, to the local homeless shelter for those who will spend their Christmas there. Shovel a driveway, or hang a wreath on someone’s door — without a note.
• Let children play with the figures in your nativity scene set.
• Enjoy the foods you really love, but seldom eat. Forget about the fruit cake, forget about the cookies — have Christmas pudding or creole shrimp or whatever food it is that you love. Make it your tradition.
• Original scents can make the holiday special, and simple scents often cause less allergies. Bring in some evergreen branches, add a bow and hang above a doorway. Put plain candles in old dishes (or a seasoned muffin tin) surrounded by baking spices such as cloves, cinnamon sticks, or coffee beans.
• Center a votive candle under a tin grater for a country candlelight. Tie a bow to the handle.
• Hang a pair of ice skates on a front door decorated with a big bow.
• A small, old-fashioned sled (perhaps from childhood) tied up with holiday ribbons is a wonderful way to greet visitors on the front porch.
• Place tall branches in an old umbrella stand or vase and decorate with vividly colored bows such as purple, for a Victorian flair.
• Arrange childrens stuffed animals under the tree until the packages arrive ... or maybe a personal collection of teddy bears, dolls or baskets.
• Place a cinnamon stick in a jar of water and slip behind the radiator in each room. The heated water will fill the air and carry the scent throughout the house.
• Drape a strand of bells from the towel rack to jingle when guests dry their hands.
• Throw a primitive or country quilt done in holiday colors over the kitchen table.
• Tie bows to the kitchen broom and other common household tools.
• Put pine cones, and more pine cones in unexpected and old-fashioned containers. Add ginger, all spice or cinnamon for old-fashioned smells.
• Celebrate with anything bubbly. Write down your mistakes, regrets, shortcomings and disappointments on a piece of paper. Seal them into a crinkle, say “Good riddance” and then toss them into the fire. Welcome in the new year.
Some of the ideas in this story are from the book “Simple Abundance” by Sarah Ban Breathnach.
