Ideas for Yule!

i wish i could offer some ideas. but i'm on the search for some. And a wish ornament is a REALLY good idea! i love it!

Bon fire to celebrate the return of the sun, also I plan on fixing a Yule log project that was started a couple of years ago and never finished. This year my son is 17 months (18 then) and is already in his terrible twos.  The tree will probably go up for about 5 days total because I am not fighting him on that for weeks on end lol.  We will probably get together with some family and make flour dough ornaments.  Here is a recipe if anyone is interested.

Classic Salt Dough Recipe

Ingredients:

2 cups flour
1 cup salt
1 cup water

Directions:
1. Mix salt and flour.
2. Add in half the water, then gradually add the remaining water.
3. Knead until the dough is smooth, this can take up to 10 minutes.
4. For flat dough ornaments roll out the dough on baking paper
Or be creative and make odd shapes and wreaths (takes longer to bake)

Create:
Use cookie cutters, cut-out templates, or just use your hands.
Dust dough with flour and begin to add details to the ornaments with a toothpick, popsicle stick, and knife.

Don't Forget:
Use a straw to make a hole so you can hang the ornament.

Baking: Time varies based on thickness of ornament
Temperature: 325 degrees
Time: 1 1/2 hours - or until dry

Decorate: Let cool before you begin
Paint with acrylic paints
Glue on beads, buttons, or any fun accessory

Preservation: Making them last a long time
Coat with acrylic varnish when everything is dry

I'll have to try making dough ornaments. I've made hand prints with dough as a child and we were planning on making hand prints for my grandmother. I want my little cousins and my daughter to put their hand prints in the dough and write something like Nanna's little ones. My grandmother is depressed this year because she had given all her money away (I don't think she expected to be here this holiday season) She cleaned out her room and got rid of everything. She also requested she get no gifts because she can't afford to give the adults anything. I thought this would be a great alternative to giving a store bought gift so she doesn't feel guilty and it'll be from the little ones in the family not the adults.

I'm also giving my coven mates a personalized mug full of chocolates with a serving of powdered hot chocolate I put in frosting pipping bag with mini marshmallows put in a stocking. I can't do much so I thought of something I can make.

We will do a gift exchange after ritual and we always have great food. I'm making gingerbread cookies from my great grandmothers recipe. It'll be the first time I make gingerbread cookies from scratch. I know we'll have a great time! I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season!

If all else fails or you're pressed for time my 2 favorites are still:

-  Giving life, like a baby tree, a favorite herb of the coven (that will tolerate whatever zone you live in).  It reminds us of the circle of life this time of year and this gift will continue to give back to you in rituals and ceremonies - maybe the rest of your life and the next generation !

 

-  The other one is feeding nature with birdseed ornaments to hang outside all around your yard. . . .

 

giving life- that's so great! Especially this time of year My dh gave me a baby tree :) I love the winter solstic. We do a lot of fire 'worship' (fireplace, firepit, etc). We also do crazy decorating - pinecones and holly and evergreen sprigs everywhere. We ski and do a bunch of 'snow worship' (praise uler, lol).

Brightest blessings

 

For the birdseed ornaments do you use peanut butter or the egg whites and baking way? I've always used peanut butter but I heard that some use egg whites as the "glue" . Anyone knows what is better?

I use suet   - whatever I can get from the butcher and for however much I get, I add some peanut butter  (like maybe 3 parts suet to 1 part peanut butter or so) and then I add some seeds and sometimes left over dried corn.

The suet gives them a little extra fat for when it starts getting really cold.

My brother and I are putting together a Yule lg and having a ritual on Sunday.  My husband has been busy all day and this week getting things ready.  My best friend will be joining us as well.  Cheyenne doesn't  know quite what to think of Yule.  Last year, she was 8 months, now she is 20 months and has somewhat of a clue, she follows mommy around while setting up Xmas stuff(My Mom is Christian), My brother is out of town today getting the Log for Yule.  So this should be great.