You know the holidays really don’t have to be stressful. Yes some have it really hard and have a lot on their plates but a lot of us make our lives stressful. We think we have to do it all and we don’t ask for any help.
My favorite christmas memory is when we just moved to Sacramento and we still had boxes to unpack. We slept on mattresses and had no christmas tree or presents that year. My sweet mama woke my sisters and I on Christmas singing in Russian silent night. Just thinking about it makes me cry happy tears.
My happy memories were not when mom made such a fuss over cooking and making everything perfect. I know that those won’t be my kids happy memories as well even if I stretch myself thin and I believe in the lie that I’m being a good mom by doing it all.
It’s okay to not have a Christmas tree. It’s okay to buy a cake at the store. It’s even okay to buy the entire meal if you have to. One of our dear friends who works full time and has three little ones always do and I have learned so much from her. Oh she’s so extremely talented and can bake the most amazing cakes but she doesn’t feel she has to do it if she doesn’t have time.
In the end all of the things society has made us believe is really important, really isn’t. Spending quality time with our children and doing the simple things that don’t cost any money is what really matters.
So if your feeling stressed out this season please stop and think what can you do differently so your not.
Here is five free bay area holiday activities that you can enjoy with your family. The best thing is that it is free.
Miners Old Time Holiday
We were interested in seeing how coal miners who migrated to the area celebrated Christmas in the mid 1800s. The Welsh would make calenning apples which they decorated using springs of greens. On New Years children would knock on doors and sing with calenning apples in their hands. They would then receive money or some sort of food in return. We also gathered mistletoe and tied them together using a ribbon. A few days before Christmas is was customary for them to decorate the outside of their house with mistletoe and holly. The mistletoe would protect them from evil and the holly was a symbol for eternal life.
It was really interesting to learn how the early miners celebrated Christmas here in California.
Located at Antioch Community Center: 4703 Lane Tree Way, Antioch, CA 94531.
Acorn Ornaments
We love nature ornaments. We don’t always bring out our Christmas tree or decorate it but the few previous years when we did we used nature as our ornaments. Some of the ornaments were shells, rocks that had holes in them, feathers, leaves, and sheep wool. Pretty much anything that came from nature could be added to our tree. We have done a little felting before but we have never made acorn ornaments out of them. This is such an easy and fun activity. The best thing about this acorn ornament making is that we were able to thank the sheep for their wool by feeding them celery or lettuce. Many bring their own celery and lettuce and feed the little farm animals.
Located at Tilden Nature Area and Little Farm
Holiday Gift Making
Homemade gifts are the best. I always think of how the person who made the gift spent hours creating it. This gift making session consisted of making things that represented nature. We decorated a pen using paper, pin, and tape. We also made a book mark using leaves and unique scrap paper which was then laminated for us. We really enjoyed preserving the print of a leaf by using dry clay and leaves.
We are always crating and making things at home but it is nice to actually go somewhere where the activity is already all set up and planned for you. It is nice to learn from others in the community.
Located at Sunol Regional Wilderness
Christmas at Patterson House
Patterson House is a great place to visit during Christmas or anytime of the year. With information on the years this house was residential and background on the family that lived there. There are many interesting items in this house that most people didn’t or don’t know exist. The tour was well done and when we came here there was plenty of room for questions and exploring the house.
During the Christmas season this house has more than twenty decorated Christmas trees. We learned that young children were not perminted in the living room because the Christmas tree had real candles on it. Life for children back in those days was very different from nowadays. Children spent majority of their time outdoors and there were rooms in the house where they were not permitted in.
Located at Ardenwood Historic Farm : 34600 Ardenwood Blvd, Fremont.
2018 downtown Christmas parade and holiday market
Benichia is our favorite small town in the bay area. Its just over the bridge from east bay but somehow this town managed to keep its small town charm. And the Christmas parade is great reflection of its small town spirit. There is a place in it for state and government officials next to the local tractor enthusiasts . Local churches, and anybody else who wants to join the parade. After the parade you can stroll the holiday market and pick up something unique for your loved one.
Located at 1st St, Benicia, CA.
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