For the first time, Gretchen Rubin won’t be able to spend the holidays with her parents. It’s a refrain heard around the globe as people forgo traveling, and it comes with deep sadness. But Ms. Rubin, a happiness expert, says that stripping down the season to its basics opens a certain space to prioritize and preserve the “essence of the holidays.”
That might include cutting down a fragrant Christmas tree or creating platters of cookies. For Ms. Rubin, it means filling her home in New York City with paperwhite narcissus flowers. They evoke for her the iconic smell of the season – one that filled her childhood home in Kansas City, Missouri. “[The pandemic] is helping us realize how precious our traditions are and how much we do value them,” she says.
IN a bid to spread some festive joy following a tough year for businesses, Santa paid a visit to traders across Barrow town centre recently. Barrow BID have been unable to put on large scale events in Barrow town centre during the festive period due to the pandemic. So on December 19 they ran a Covid safe Christmas trail for families and even had a special appearance from Santa himself. The Christmas Trail had 10 naughty elves hiding in stores across the town and participants had to follow a series of clues and a map to find the elves and a letter which would spell out the final destination.
St Albans Mayor Cllr Janet Smith with Harrison Cox.
- Credit: Stephanie Belton
St Albans Rainbow Trail s final initiative of the year is supporting the Mayor s chosen charity, St Albans and Hertsmere Women s Refuge (SAHWR).
St Albans Mayor Cllr Janet Smith
- Credit: Stephanie Belton
The community initiative, organised by St Albans Rainbow Trail s Preet Cox, aims to fundraise as much as possible for SAHWR through its trio of socially distanced and virtual competitions.
SAHWR provides support to victims of domestic abuse and domestic violence. COVID restrictions have contributed to the rise in demand for refuge and domestic abuse services.
FOLLOWING the success of her charity Halloween trail earlier this year, a Tadley woman has launched a ‘bigger and better’ festive version of the event. Bobie Jones, 30, was so encouraged by the reaction to her endeavour that she felt it was only right to offer a Christmas trail. “The main motivator was the response that we got. It’s way bigger than I imagined,” said the mum-of-three, who works as a mind and body health coach. “From a wellbeing point of view, it supported the community and it was lovely to have something to look forward to. Because it boosted everybody’s wellbeing, I thought I can’t not now continue that to Christmas.
The Skerton Christmas project aims to bring some much needed seasonal goodwill to the whole community.
Monday, 14th December 2020, 12:30 pm
It’s Skerton Community Network’s first Christmas and all involved want to make it extra special after a difficult year overshadowed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Formed in April by Zsuzsanna Brenner-Daly, St Joseph’s RC Church’s outreach co-ordinator, the Network includes St Joseph’s, the Friends of Ryelands Park and Lune Bank Gardens, and volunteers working together for the benefit of the residents of Skerton, one of the country’s most deprived areas.
Among their festive initiatives are a Christmas Trail and Christmas card making project.