Christmas' Best-Kept Sweet Secrets
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
BENNETT, COLEMAN & CO. LTD. | ESTABLISHED 1838 | TIMESOFINDIA.COM | NEW DELHI STUDENT EDITION ➤ Goldfish can’t remember ➤ The familair feel-good ➤ Everything you need anything for longer than a movies you must watch to know about the TODAY’S ➤ SATURDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2020 Get started on the ancient sport of archery Newspaper in second and many more Education EDITION such interesting facts spy fiction genre PAGE 2 PAGE 3 PAGE 4 CLICK HERE: PAGE 1 AND 2 Pics: Istock Try these easy-to-do How to teach your kids craft ideas to make your home warm and THE JOY OF GIVING 1. LEAD BY EXAMPLE welcoming Make sure you model your own joy when giving to others. Give gifts (even if it’s just your time and energy) to family [email protected] members and friends — in front of your child and make sure The it’s genuine. Because if you complain and give, the child will pick up on this. CONSCIOUS hile there is so much you can order online for 2. MAKE GIFTING A DAILY ACTIVITY HOLIDAY guideGIFT your Christmas Create a gifting jar in your home and get your kids to deco- party, there is rate it. Brainstorm with them on the ideas of daily gifts that Wsomething comely and cute about can be written and rolled up in the jar like a fortune cookie. It Ten ideas to bring in the making some decor pieces could be: hugs, kisses, jokes, small acts of kindness and Christmas cheer…and yourself. Get going and be at your drawings. Everyday pick one chit and surprise your family creative best with these DIY ideas. member or friend with it! they don’t cost much CORNERS FULL OF 3. INVOLVE THEM IN IT MAKE YOUR OWN: A card, a photo CHRISTMAS CHEER Take your child’s inputs in all the gifts book, cake are all good ideas for a DIY Decor to welcome that you are planning to give. By includ- 1gift. And if you are nifty with your Highlight corners of your home ing their help you are already sharing fingers attempt to make your own gift with fairy lights thrown inside the joy of giving with them. using leftover fabric, an embroidery empty bottles and outside them. hoop or maybe upcycle an old Clean old bottles, dry completely cardboard for a dollhouse. 4. GIFT YOUR NEIGHBOURS and place them on the table As we get more insular, it’s a good time GO VIRTUAL: Whether it’s planting overlooking your windows and use to spread the joy in your a tree in your mother’s name or small fairy lights (leftovers from floor. Get your child to 2signing up your brother on an Diwali) to decorate them – it gives take a plate of treats to virtual class like soap making, etc – a fairytale effect and illuminates Christmasstaircase with these bows. your neighbour. Also virtual experiences are the way to go. the corners of your home. You can also add some teach them to appreciate There are many virtual courses available memorable greenery around the bows local community helpers and it’s a great thoughtful gift. holidays, etc. (on the staircase) to make like firemen, police and Hang pictures the bright red stand out. sanitation workers. SEND A FAMILY CARD: Wish a using pegs. In the happy 2021 by making your year when TREES IN JARS 3personalised cards. Get ready for a meeting family Glass jars or mason jars 5. DECLUTTER TOGETHER family photo and click one of those and having can be put to good use by Help your child choose old clothes or other studio style shots. Print and stick on celebrations putting small Christmas items to take to local organisations that accept card paper and send to family with a became a dream, trees inside them along donations or even kids who can benefit. personalised note and handprints. The devoting a with shiny decorative year has been tough for everyone and a canopy (or more) balls, cones, cotton balls 6. HELP THEM DECODE THE JOY heartfelt note is a good reminder. to such pictures and glitter. Keep these festive When your child gives gifts or cards out, help SHOP LOCAL: If you have to send will bring warm hang as wreath on doors and jars next to pretty lanterns or even him/her to recognise the warm, fuzzy feeling gifts, make sure you buy from a memories. Cut your windows. By the end of the aromatic candles to emulate they feel inside. Help them connect the joy 4local business that is handmade, Christmas cake with this Christmas weekend, the candies snowy Christmas in your home. and happiness that comes from giving. locally sourced and they are a small FESTIVITY PICS ON background and invite your family can be distributed to all the family Merry Christmas! business. There’s no better service this PRETTY CANOPIES for a digital get together. members and to the 7. ESSENTIAL READING year than to support home-grown neighbours. Some titles are classics like ‘The Giving Tree’ by Shel businesses. Also always tag them on Use old sheer curtains or chiffon CANDY WREATHS Silverstein, the entertaining ‘The Spiffiest Giant in social media and spread the word to dupattas to make translucent Get some candy canes in a circle STAIRCASE BOWS Town’ by Julia Donaldson where George, the giant, help them grow. canopies and string together with the hooks all facing the same Use red ribbons (from gives away his new clothes to animals in need, pictures of family festivities, direction. Fix together with glue. birthday parties and school ‘Thank You, Stinky Face’ by Lisa McCourt to help SHOP PRE-LOVED: Again if you do Decorate the centre with your functions) to upgrade your have to buy, how about getting young readers learn the importance of showing favourite candies, overlapping Christmas décor; tie the appreciation of others and their unique gifts and R.J. 5something that you know needs a EVERYONE IS A them slightly and holding in place ribbons as big bows and stick new home. A swap among friends as Palaccio’s ‘We’re All Wonders’ invites kids to discuss with hot-glue. Thread ribbon some shiny ornaments in the the importance of being open to spreading kindness Secret Santa is a good idea. Shopping SANTA IN 2020! through two candy canes at top to centre. Decorate your vintage or pre-loved is no longer taboo. to everyone – to name a few. SPEND TIME: With all of us busy t goes without saying that this year is unlike any other year. and raisins are also typically with our phones or computers, how present. This cake was original- about gifting your precious time. I Everyone worked extra hard, SZALONCUKOR 6 ly brought to Chile by German from managing WFH and SFH Make it more fun and turn it into a During the Christmas season, (school from home), along with immigrants and has since found coupon. Ask your family to redeem it as CHRISTMAS’ it is impossible to miss szalon- itself a staple of Christmastime home chores and so on. So, and when – and honour it. Make sure cukor in Hungary. This choco- make this Christmas special for in Chile. you spend it meaningfully. late covered, fondant candy your family by adding an has become associated with DANISH RISALAMANDE GET A PLANT: A plant is a appreciation idea in your BEST-KEPT the holidays. Traditionally, the In Denmark, families traditional- gift that keeps on décor scheme. Wrap brightly wrapped candies are ly attended afternoon church 7giving. Make sure old shoes or boxes hung as a decoration on services on December you also tend to them. in shiny, Christmas trees. This tradition 24. After that comes DO YOUR CHORES: colourful SWEET the Christmas din- dates back to the 19th century paper and Remember how Zayed and it is generally accepted ner, when the make a 8Khan’s character custom that the children goose is put on the hole in makes his mum happy by should eat all candies on the table, followed by cutting his hair? Sometimes them (like SECRETS tree before the season is over. the traditional rice parents are just that easy to old world piggy Supriya.Sharma2 ated with the holiday season pudding called risala- please. If they have been after you banks); put names GERMAN STOLLEN loaf has to pass inspection by @timesgroup.com until the 1700s. Often times Dresden is famous for its mande. Leftover rice to get some things done – like organising of family members in other bakers before it receives referred to as plum stollen – long loaves of sweet- pudding is mixed with your study table or closet – gift them a each box and have each one of its stamp of approval. pudding, it may be ened bread with raisins and whipped cream, sugar, vanilla, promise to get this you put notes about how he/she CHRISTMAS surprising to discov- and chopped almonds, and then played Santa in the pandemic. almonds galore. This rich yet PAN DE PASCUA done. And do it er that this dessert Despite its name meaning topped with a cherry sauce and After all, everyone turned Santa flaky sweet bread comprises of regularly to keep PUDDING does not actually ‘Easter Bread’ in Spanish, Pan served cold. A whole blanched for each other this year – when Christmas pudding wheat flour, yeast, dried fruits, them happy. contain plums. In de Pascua is a traditional almond may be hidden among your sister baked banana bread dates all the way candied citrus, and a lot of but- the pre-Victorian Christmas treat in Chile.