The Memory Box Project December Newsletter
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The Memory Box Project December Newsletter What we’ve been up to! December festivals Erin in the South: “Throughout November we have done Below are some of the festivals celebrated through the first few sessions for Memory Book, recording memories of people living with dementia in a number of December and the religion or country they local care homes. We have heard some fantastic stories originate from. so far and will continue to book in these sessions to cover the range of our themes. We have also been Advent: Begins four Sundays preceding Christmas preparing for the festive season by creating some extra Day celebrated by Christians. Christmas reminiscence boxes and gathering new items for our bigger Memory Box team this year. Christmas Hanukkah: a Jewish festival that falls between late sessions began at the end of November and we are very November and early January. much in the festive spirit this year! On Thursday 28th November we held our BIG Knit-A-Thon at Trago Lounge Krampusnacht: held the night before The Feast of in Portswood! 12 hours knitting from 9am-9pm creating St. Nicholas and celebrated in many parts of twiddlemuffs. We raised £111.46 (including gift aid) in Europe on 5th December. donations and had 14 volunteers turn up to help out throughout the day, one also committing to 12 hours! Bodhi Day: known as the Day of Enlightenment is a Thank you to everyone for your support!” Buddhist celebration held on 8th December. Codey in the North “I have been continuing with my sessions across the North of Hampshire. On Wednesday Saint Nicholas’ Day: A Christian celebration held 27th November I attended the Alton Ageing Well Event on 6th December. where I met some lovely people to promote MBP sessions and volunteering opportunities. I have met with Pancha Ganapati: A modern five-day Hindu festival Natalie the hospital Volunteer Coordinator at celebrated from 21st—25th December. Winchester to discuss ideas of enticing more memory box volunteers to help with the project in a hospital Yalda: Also called Winter Solstice as it is the setting. If you would be interested in volunteering at a longest night of the year. A Pagan festival on 21st HHFT hospital please contact me. December. I took part in the knit a thon on Thursday 28th helping to create Twiddlemuffs and enjoyed meeting all the Christmas Eve: Held on 24th December and in volunteers who came along for the day. At the end of many German speaking countries gift giving is November I have started my Christmas sessions which is carried out. putting us in a very festive mood ready for December!” Christmas Day: 25th December is celebrated by Kayte in Dorset: “This month I've been stirring up memories with the Cookery Memory Box. We've had a Christians and many non-Christians. few 'marmite moments' - memories of food you loved or Boxing Day: Also known as Saint Stephen’s Day hated, such as tripe and onions, offal and tapioca. We've talked about war time rationing and how much healthier celebrated on 26th December. people used to be, and cooking Christmas cakes and puddings in readiness for the coming celebrations. I've Hogmanay: A Scottish New Year’s Eve celebration enjoyed meeting a new group at the Royal British Legion on the night of 31st December before the dawn of in Christchurch and can't wait to work with them again 1st January. in 2020.” Reminisce with me ( a guide for carers) 1. Christmas 1 Christmas: What’s your favourite thing about Tree Christmas? Depending on their answer ask why? What would you do Christmas Eve? Many people 2. Christmas decorated the tree on Christmas Eve, hung Dinner stockings, eat a family meal etc. How was your tree decorated when you were a child? People used real 3. Christmas candles to decorate the tree which were clipped on, and lit on Christmas Eve. Other decorations include pudding milk bottle top bells, baubles, tinsel and fir cones. 4. Stocking Did you leave a stocking out and what would you get in it? Popular stocking fillers included nuts, sweets, an orange, small toys or hair ribbons. Would you visit family or church on Christmas Day? Where is the furthest they have spent Christmas from home? Christmas food! Topics to ask: did you have turkey and all the trimmings? 2 (many people had chicken instead) Do you make your own Christmas cake or puddings? A silver 4 sixpence used to be baked into the pudding for the lucky person to find on Christmas day. What games would you play? Charades, board games, or playing with new toys. Do you watch the Queen’s speech? 3 The first televised Queen’s speech was in 1957 How do you spend boxing day? Shops were always closed for Christmas and boxing day. Does anyone now attend the Boxing day sales? Sensory additions to your session: Please be aware that a person may experience over stimulation if Taste: This is the perfect time of year to include too many of the senses are stimulated at once. Always tastes such as mince pies, mulled wine, roasted try to approach subjects slowly and steadily and introduce new items etc. at the clients pace. chestnuts, candy canes, marzipan, Christmas cake or a tipple of sherry where appropriate. Here are some suggestions for the theme. Please be aware of allergies. Please ensure all items/foods are safe for each person to handle/taste/smell etc. Sound: There are many resources online that you could use to create the atmosphere Smell: The Memory Box Project uses smell through sound. Why not try the sound of a boxes for their sessions, why not use safe roaring fire, sleigh bells and the obvious choice smells accessible to you. The smell of fresh a Christmas sing along with some festive tunes. pine, cinnamon or cloves or oranges are nostal- Try and personalise the sound to the gic of the festive period. Please keep in mind participants. safety and avoid any harmful/toxic substances. 1 2 Across: 1: Pull and you win a prize (7 letters) 3: He may be kissing Mummy (5 letters) 5 6: They twinkle like a fairy (6 letters) 7: A pointy eared helper (3 letters) 3 4 9: Gobble me up (6 letters) 11: Begins four weeks before the 25th (6 letters) 6 Down: 7 8 1: Sent to and from friends and family (5 letters) 2: He leads the way with his red nose (7 letters) 9 10 4: Place on top of the tree (5 letters) 5: Can be given and received, wrapped up (7 letters) 11 8: Type of tree that gets decorated (3 letters) 10: The traditional time of year and a chocolate cake (4 letters) Answers on page 4 Find the festive flower Christmas Food Word Jumble R E S E N T Dancy Nace _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ R B I N Stunchets _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Negggo _ _ _ _ _ _ F R T R E E Turfi kace _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ M I T T E S Badgeringer _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ C R O O G E Stun _ _ _ _ L F Tho cocahotel _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ I N S E L Keyrut _ _ _ _ _ _ F R O S V Y B U B L E A Christmas Memory Tag Use this Christmas robin carrying a tag to write down a favourite Christmas memory or everyone's favourite part of the festive season. Why not cut them out and create a memory display or a memory trail around the home for people to find them!? Christmas categories—how to play! Everyone has a sheet of paper (per person or team) split the page into 5 Christmas themed categories such as: food, decorations, song, character, drink, film. Next pic a letter of the alphabet and set a timer (time will depend on the participants) and find an answer for each column. For example: Food Decorations Song Character Film Turkey Tinsel Twelve days of Tiny Tim The Grinch Christmas Answers Across: 1– Cracker 3– Santa 6– lights 7– Elf 9– Turkey 11– Advent / Down: 1– Cards 2– Rudolph 4– Angel 5– Present 8– Fir 10– Yule The festive flower—Poinsettia Christmas food word jumble— Candy cane, Chestnuts, Egg nog, Fruit cake, Gingerbread, Nuts, Hot chocolate, tur- key Christmas stocking memories and colouring What did you use for a stocking? _____________________________________ What did you get in your Christmas stocking? ___________________________ ________________________________________________________________ What’s coming up! Volunteering with MBP in 2020! Erin: “December brings lots of festive sessions If you or someone you know are thinking of throughout the South. We have 3 more fundraising sessions throughout December, on Monday 9th and volunteering in the New Year, and are 16th we will be at Hillier’s Garden Centre in West looking for a fun, interactive heritage based End, also on the 16th myself, Heather, Caroline role then we are the project for you. (MBH) and some wonderful volunteers will be on the Highstreet in Southampton City Centre We will be holding 2 drop in sessions at our collecting for the day! If you see us come and say office in January for you to learn more about hello and all offers of a warm coffee I'm sure will be gratefully received!” the project and our volunteering roles.