By Kate Hodges
03rd January 2019
EVENTS and RECIPE Christmas Farewell
Traditionally, a Twelfth Night celebration was held on January 5, a night of feasting, games and giving gifts, all presided over by the Lord Of Misrule. The Lord was chosen by sweetmeat lottery – whoever found a bean in their slice of Twelfth Night Cake became the ruler for the night, organising the entertainment and setting ludicrous commands. There’s a lovely piece here about the celebrations, complete with a recipe for a rich cake to make (if you can face more sweet stuff!) If you’re in London, don’t miss the fun Lions Part celebrations this Sunday – one of our favourite yearly events, with a Holly Man, wishing tree, and a huge parade of people in incredible costumes. Or head to the brilliant Boscastle Museum of Witchcraft and Magic for a wassail and old Christmas celebration with a torchlit guise procession, serpent dancing and a wassail ceremony.
DO Namaste Nippers
Doing yoga with your kids not only keeps your minds and bodies clear and healthy, but it’s a lovely way to bond. Why not make 2019 the year you start practicing together? Animal yoga keeps things fun and simple. Read about it here find downloadable instruction cards here, or try following this video. There’s a lovely morning yoga sequence on video here while sport yoga is fun for really active kids. Older kids might prefer a more sci-fi approach – try Star Wars yoga.
LEARN Gentle Touch
January 4 is the anniversary of the birth of Louis Braille, the man who invented the tactile reading and writing system used by blind and visually impaired people who can’t access printed materials. Although digital advances have made life easier for blind people, braille is still a vital tool for literacy and versatility. Find out about Louis Braille’s life here, more about the system here and try this method for making your own Braille chart. There are basic lesson plans here and here - find out about blind and partially sighted people, create Braille riddles, and write your name in Braille.
RECIPE and DO Vegan Living
Are you taking part in Veganuary this year? In 2018 almost 170,000 of us pledged to go animal product-free for the first month of the year, and many, many more took part. 2018 was the year that veganism went mainstream, with new products launched almost every week, supermarkets increasing their range of vegan basics, and restaurants rewriting their menus to include more exciting, meat-free options. Find a useful starting kit here with meal guides and shopping plans, or inspiring recipes here. We’re fans of ‘accidentally vegan’ snacks - this list will help you choose fun treats to make meat-free living easier. And read up on the trends to watch in 2019 here - we’re looking forward to slurping tahini milkshakes, eating vegan seafood products and munching on mushroom snacks.
MAKE Stitch in Time
It can be hard for kids – and parents – to say goodbye to a favourite T-shirt, pair of jeans or old vest. If a piece of clothing is very dear, or too battered to pass on, why not use it to make something new? Sewing round a winter fire together is sociable, cosy, and teaches invaluable lifeskills. Turn an old shirt into a bag, make some cute lavender bags or sew nature pouches together. Or create soft toys – there are ideas here for teddies made from old baby clothes and patterns simple enough for kids to sew. More complex, patchwork quilts take scraps of old memories and stitch them together forever.
