We Need a Little Christmas... 8 Ways to Make the Season Bright
If you need a little Christmas, right this very minute….well, read on!
This Christmas season is different. People all across America and the world have been through upheaval and change, as individuals and as societies. Christmas promises a spirit of joy that, while it cannot erase our realities and our heartaches, it may help us to lighten our hearts for just a little while. And that may be exactly what we need right now.
One not need much money in the bank to make their spirits bright. Giving thanks for anything and everything we do have is a good place to start. If you want to sprinkle a little extra magic on top, here are some ideas to help you celebrate the season…
Chalk Marker Door Decor
Chalk markers can be found at any craft supply store for less than $5. Use yours to draw directly onto windows, doors, and even cars! The perfect activity for adults and kids alike. Pro tip: sketch out your design and/or words on the outside of the glass first, trace it on the inside, then wipe off the outside with a towel. This way, your letters are already reversed, and you can have some wiggle room to perfect your design!
Pumpkin Ornaments
Still have a lovely little leftover-from-Halloween pumpkin lying around? Brush on a coat of inexpensive acrylic paint, let it dry, then go to town dressing them up in their holiday best. Jack Skellington would surely approve.
Greeting Cards for Friends and Family
What better way to connect with family and loved ones this year than with a personal handmade holiday card. More tangible than a Zoom call (though those are good too), let the special people in your life know you are thinking of them this holiday. You can make your own cards using construction paper or card stock, or buy cards from the store. Then, decorate the card and envelope using sparkly gel pens, washi tape, stickers, or some metallic markers. Make it your own!
Bonus points: Use a water glass to trace and cut out a circle on construction paper, then cut a small square of paper into an “n” shape, tape this to the back, string a ribbon through it, and decorate your very own ornament, from you to them!
Pro tip: I wrote out six holiday cards this year, pulling out all the bells and whistles as described above. Although it was very enjoyable and creatively fulfilling, it also took me nearly 3 hours! Pick and choose how you want to customize your special cards depending on how much time you have in your schedule. You can also have any little ones you know help out with ornament making, and turn it into a fun lesson about shapes or patterns!
Paint and Sip a Snowy Scene
Picture this: you sit down at your computer for a Zoom session, only this time there’s only one agenda - painting a cheerful snowman to brighten up your holiday home. Sign me up! Paint and sip sessions are still very popular, and there’s a good reason why. No matter how much or how little experience one has painting, they offer the chance for everyone to make art. Though everyone follows the same directions, each person’s painting will come out slightly different. That is beautiful!
This snowman was painted during a free virtual paint and sip session put on by my library science alma mater’s alumni association. As an incentive to participate, we were all promised boxes of free school swag - you bet we all marked our calendars! It was a fun challenge, and the painting was ready to be displayed right away thanks to acrylic paint’s quick drying time. Soft jazzy Christmas music played in the background as nearly 100 people tuned in with their supplies in hand to create a snowy sensation to warm their heart and home.
Christmas Tree for Book Lovers
This is the first year I’ve had a tiny tree in my apartment. It’s glow when all lit up at night really does to wonders to brighten spirits on those cold, dark wintry nights. I wanted a little more of my tree to be seen from the street, so I propped it up on a few books I had around: two library science texts, and two fiction books purchased at a local library’s book sale. What started out as a simple holiday hack to give my tree a lift ended up as a very library-forward, aesthetically pleasing delight!
Bonus tip: Why not make book-themed paper ornaments? The tree pictured above was later filled with handmade paper ornaments, and it really filled it out!
Holiday Music
Christmas music is everywhere this time of year. Whether you prefer lively and light, or soothing and somber, there is something for everyone. Whether you’re catching a socially-distanced live outdoor show, or simply tuning into “that station that plays Christmas music 24/7” while doing any of the above holiday crafts, music can be healing as well as restorative, reminding us to slow down and take in the season. Ask your friends and family (or library patrons via social media) their most and least favorite holiday jams, and you are sure to spark a lively discussion!
Let There Be Lights
Though family may be far, and the usual Christmas (or Hannukah) festivities are feeling a little low-key, there is always a light in the darkness. Literally. Lights are everywhere this time of year. No doubt some of your neighbors had their decorations up before the last of the Thanksgiving stuffing was finished! Take a walk or drive around your community to see all of the lights your home-for-the-holidays has to offer.
Take inspiration and be a light to others in the darkness of this year. Remember to treat others with sympathy and compassion as we all are battling struggles that can’t be seen. Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas, a joyful last night of Hannukah, a happy Kwanzaa, and a bright new year ahead!
Photos: Lorelle S.
