Home for the Holidays
What makes Christmas holidays special? Is it the smell of fresh baked sugar cookies when you arrive home on a snowy afternoon? Or the fresh scent of an evergreen awaiting its decor? The sound of Christmas music that sets a tone of nostalgia of times long ago or favorite memories?
Many wonderful reminders bring us to a place of peace and wonderment that is the essence of the season.
Throughout my life our friends and family have had a tradition of making hand made decorations and trimmings. As far back as I can remember we created little pieces of memorabilia to remind us of a certain time.
One of my earliest memories of holiday decorations was that of cutting snowflakes from paper and embellishing them with glitter, silver and clear. Little did I know in my childhood years that when I became a teenager living in Mammoth, I would have real snowflakes to taste with my tongue as they fell from the heavens or admire on a crisp and sparkling night as the lights of the car would shine on the the blanketed landscape with diamond brilliance! Its one of my favorite parts of winter!
Other homemade decorations that have been popular over the past century is that of stringing popcorn and cranberries to make a fun and festive garland that surrounds the tree or any other spot that needs a bit of gaiety. As well fresh or faux garland is fun to hang from a stair railing, around a door or on a mantel. The garlands can be decorated with pine cones, lights and ornaments.
One year I made hundreds of gingerbread men, decorated them and hung them on the tree with ribbon that I glued to the back of the cookies. I have also done the same decoration with sugar cookies that are decorated in holiday fashion.
Last year my present to many friends was to make a large cookie tray filled with a variety of cookies and sweets that I spent several week making and assembling. I think I'm just getting over the sugar rush now!
Other affordable and fun decorating tips are to hang candy canes on the tree, like we did in our childhood. Or for a bright accent to any decor tie colored ribbons on trees , doors, bedposts, or anywhere that a bright accent will bring a welcoming reminder of the season.
Remember the days of spraying fake snow on the windows when we live in a place where we had no snow? Its funny to think of that now. Of course it was a chore to then remove it after the holidays were over.
There are so many easy and fun ways to add a little touch of the holidays to any decor. The resources that we have now make it very easy to do a one stop shop and find such a wide variety of decorations to fill our homes with a festive holiday decor.
But to unpack some of our old decorations is all part of the holiday mystery. The memories unfold as the boxes are opened, some happy some not.
Certain memories will stay with us our entire lives and certain traditions are ever present with each new holiday season.
During this holiday I think we will all be more grateful for the time and the experiences that we have shared with our families and loved ones. The world grow ever challenging and somewhat uncertain so for myself it brings and even greater desire to hole to what is familiar and to have hope for the future and what the new year will bring. As we hold to our beliefs and traditions, give thanks for the beauty that surrounds us and the joy that we can bring to others in little ways. So enjoy your home decorating, your friends and family this holiday season and spread Love to those you know and don't. Happy Holidays!
