(A version of this article first appeared in Kingston Neighbours magazine, December, 2023.)
T’is the season to be jolly, Fa la la la la, la la la la …
During the upcoming “Festivus” season, there will be many joyful parties and boisterous dinners, and, as Seinfeld’s famous 1997 episode describes Festivus, possibly some feats of strength and airing of grievances too. All the best to you and your family, however you choose to celebrate!
However, there will be lots of down-time too, especially for the kiddos on winter break. And while a little boredom can spark creativity, a lot of boredom leads to less joy and more airing of grievances, especially if the winter weather keeps everyone cooped up inside. Trust me, I’m speaking from experience here!
Crafts are one solution to this dilemma.
Full disclosure: I am not a crafty person. Maybe it stems from my early childhood experiences: as a leftie, cutting with right-handed scissors was always a stressful event! Regardless, even though glue and glitter and scissors are more angst-provoking than joy-inspiring for me, I recognize that the creative process is a vital and meaningful part of life. Children, and adults too, need to create.
But, if you are like me, you may need some inspiration. I found a new and wonderful book this year, Winter Crafts Across Cultures: 12 Projects to Celebrate the Season by Megan Borgert-Spaniol, that may stir the imaginations in your home. With instructions for marshmallow dreidels, confetti poppers and a very cool ice candle among other unique crafts, this book will have your kids happily creating for hours. It uses basic craft supplies, and even lists other books and websites at that back for more crafting ideas.
Borgert-Spaniol’s book would also make a great gift this holiday season. And the best news is that it is part of a series, Seasonal Crafts Across Cultures, so if you want year-round inspiration, you can borrow or buy Spring Crafts Across Cultures, Summer Crafts Across Cultures and Fall Crafts Across Cultures, all by the same author.
So Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, Joyeux Noel, Season’s Greetings, Happy Hanukkah, Habari Gani and Happy Festivus for the rest of us!
Until the New Year, happy crafting and happy reading.
Lisa's Book Corner 
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