Sunday, October 27, 2013

31 Days of Inspired Holidays: day 27: Surprise Box

Here's a post about "Christmas Eve Surprise Box", and after seeing that picture above about a suitcase turned into a craft storage, I thought that that is a good idea for Samhain - or any other Holiday.

Now, on Halloween, All Hallows Even or Samhain Eve, there is the tradition of trick-and-treating, and I don't think that's a bad tradition. But if you do, this is one suggestion that would make it more fun to stay at home and have a family time.

In that "Christmas Eve Surprise Box", there is a new set of sleepwear or lounge wear and comfy socks; a movie with a good message and some movie treats; books; hot chocolate mix and cups (for Samhain you can have caramel apple cider spices in the cone, or in a sachet.)


Now, in my box or bag there would also be some craft and art supplies, and stationery, and then some "stocking stuffers".

BTW; why isn't there any stocking stuffers or easter basket stuffers for Samhain?

Now, here is where my background comes forth very clearly. When I was a kid there was no candy. Except for big holidays and birthdays, and when we got visitors, who could bring some candy. To me anything sweet, like cake and ice cream is "candy". There were no desserts, no baked sweets like donuts and cookies available every day. There were no Sunday desserts nor Saturday candy, as is a habit now-a-days in Sweden and Finland. So to me the efforts to limit access to candy these days are a bit odd, especially if the person talking about that remembers fondly their own childhood adventures in Candy Land... But - this is the background I use to relate with.  But - I am aware of the "curse of wellfare" we suffer today. We live in the land of plenty where anyone can get as much candy as they want, every day. Where people are fat only because they have an access to sweets, where people are so used to putting sugar in everything, that they would find sugarless products tasteless, even unpleasant. In Finland and Denmark we are raised with dark rye bread with no sugar, no molasses, no malt, no sweeteners of any kind. Today people are richer and eat sweeter, softer bread, and are also more fat and unhealthy.

Now, ranting done :-D

I am not too pleased with the material culture either.
In that article they are speaking of "token presentS"
"creative toyS, plush palS AND a hidden surprise..."
"some small, age appropriate toyS, a gag gift for boys and sweet and shiny trinket for girls"
"Trade the candy overload for tech-related gadgetS, bookS, gift cardS AND accessorieS"
So - trade the sugar overload to thing overload?

What would I put in the Samhain bag?
Something that tastes like Samhain, something that smells like Samhain, something that feels like Samhain to touch, something that sounds like Samhain and something that looks like Samhain.
Samhain ornament or decoration.
A book.
Something to wear, an accessory or a t-shirt, perhaps socks.
I liked this "double dutch theme". Put in the bag some activity and all the tools and materials needed to do it. Now, I don't like the popular culture themed basket ideas. I also don't like the idea of fake tools. Give the kids real tools. Real arts and crafts supplies. And stationery :-D

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