Take a Break: Russian Christmas-Make a Matryoshka Ornament

Matryoshka, or nesting dollars, are among the most popular of Russian souvenirs, even though they are a relatively recent art form. In the traditional nesting doll sets all of the dolls look almost identical to one another, and the number of dolls in the set ranges from 5 to 30. Learn more about at Russian Dolls-Words of the World. 

Decoupage Du Noel Russe  has a series of patterns you can download for free and make into an ornament or a place tag for the holiday table. Note that the large Matryoshka  has arms and legs to add and NOEL appears on the apron. Since I was using this as a craft for young children, I printed out a copy, “whited out” NOEL and printed on card stock. They are easy to color and will look lovely on a tree.

For more Matryoshka fun, watch:

                                                           Dance of the Matryoshki 

                                                     How Nesting Dolls are Made 

Living Forward When Affected by Chronic Disease

A well-educated couple I know have had issues finding and keeping jobs for the last 25 years. Both now have chronic conditions. It made be wonder about the interplay between negative responses to difficult situations and on-going health concerns. Does having a chronic condition become a convenient justification or rationale for not finding a job, a significant other, or some other goal one has difficultly achieving?

As I was mulling this over, I found myself inspired by Caroline Casey’s TED talk where she made the comment Stop with the labels … because we are not jam jars; we are extraordinary, different, wonderful people.  

Casey found out at 17 that she had been legally blind since birth. Her parents had made a conscious decision not to raise her with labels of being disabled or treating her as “special.” She is testament that you are what you believe yourself to be.  At 28, she could no longer deny her vision issues and finally accepted “all the bits” about herself . Not only was this empowering and freeing, it allowed her to start some amazing projects and become a “social entrepreneur.”

I started with my usual “consider” list but decided that this was a good opportunity to update Healing the Whole Person: Ways to Increase Well Being, which contains lots of helpful “considers” l and is worth a few minutes to review

Take a Break: Russian Christmas: Russian Holidays-Five pointed Star with Twigs

The star has been part of Christmas traditions and holidays the world over and Russia is no exception. During the Communist era, it was usually red and had a variety of meanings including the five fingers of the worker’s hand. That noted, today’s activity is to make a five pointed star from twigs.  

If it’s too snowy where you live, you can make them with five pieces of pretty much anything, including tooth picks, coffee stirrers or even skewers. I used the latter to learn how to make these.

I started with directions I found on-line  and suggest that you look at them.

 • Use five twigs (or whatever else you have handy) and make sure they are of equal size.

 • Lay them so they are parallel to one another | | | | |

 • Tie or use small rubber bands so they look like this \/\/\

 • Lay the one /\ over the other and you should see the 5 pointed star shape appear. Tie off the remaining loose ends and you will have a five-pointed star.

 • Depending on how you wish to use it, wrap ribbon around the connecting points.

Other posts in this series

• Russian Christmas History/Cut Tree & Ballerina Snowflakes 

The Permission Slip to Care For Yourself

My friend Cheryl, who the post When You Can’t Be With Them: Messages that make a difference  was dedicated to,  continues to be a source of inspiration and learning. Between grieving the death of her brother, who died unexpectedly, to caring for her sister who is dying, life is beyond challenging for her.

The other day she asked me to e-mail her a “permission slip” reminding her to take care of herself, and more importantly, to not feel guilty for doing so.

While I’ve added a few things to it, this is pretty much the list I sent her. I did include specifics, such as naming those that were calling her, making her crazy and whom she didn't need to take calls from. Now when she gets a disturbing phone call from someone she says, “they’re going on the list.”

No matter how your life is affected by a chronic condition, YOU HAVE PERMISSION TO:

• Stay home and heal;

• Take care of your needs-emotional, physical, spiritual;

• Assume change will come;

• Be in charge of your life;

• Be a no drama mama;

• Be outrageous and loud;

• Be resilient;

• Be creative;

• Be clear about what you need, want and are willing to give;

• Cry if you want to;

• Disengage from other people’s issues and concerns;

• Enjoy a quiet night with friends;

• Enjoy life;

• Eat chocolate:

• Know you are doing your best, which is more than good enough; 

• Know that you are a loving, kind and generous person;

• Live in the moment;

• Laugh;

• Love:

• Limit activities to what you really want to do

• Learn;

• Let go of expectations-what you expect from others and what you expect of yourself;

• Not take phone calls from anyone you really don’t want to talk to;

• Not feel guilty or crazy;

• Not attend board meetings;

• Not be around people who zap your energy-nix the energy vampires;

• Not to worry too much;

• Make something;

• Sleep as late as you want to;

• Set boundaries;

• Take a Break

• Take care of yourself

• Other: Please list all the other things that I forgot to mention as you have blanket permission to be who you need to be: _______________________

Take a Break: Russian Christmas History/Cut Tree & Ballerina Snowflakes

This December, the Wednesday “take a breaks” will be about celebrating the Russian holiday season.

Not only do customs and traditions vary throughout Russia, but significant alterations where made during the Soviet era. Thanks to the influence of the Tsar, Peter the Great and his travels to Europe,  Christmas was celebrated in Russia on December 25, complete with Christmas trees, gifts and even St. Nicholas. After the 1917 Revolution, along with other religious holidays, Christmas was banned. While the religious aspects of the holiday would not reappear again until 1992, with the fall of communism, in the 1930s, Stalin thought it would create a more stable society by having rituals and traditions.

Father Frost and Snow Maiden

Reinstating many of the folk customs, the focus was on New Years and not Christmas. Instead of Santa Claus or St. Nicholas, Ded Moroz, Father Frost, who is often accompanied by his granddaughter and helper Snegurochka, Snow Maiden, brings the presents on New Years Eve. The tree, complete with decorations, lights and stars, is also reserved for New Years.

The Christmas season begins November 28 and goes until January 6. All dates are given according to the Old Style calendar used by the Russian Orthodox Church, which is 13 days later than the secular calendar. The official Christmas and New Years holiday in Russia lasts from Dec. 31 (New Year’s Eve) to January 10 but some Russians are now observing Christmas on December 25.  Learn more by watching the two part series How to Celebrate Russian Christmas. 

                                                                 Try the following projects

Paper Tree: This is from Finland, which is very close to Russia. After you’ve printed your tree pattern, cut in half, using the guide lines at the top and bottom lengthwise. Fold two sheets of 81/2 X 11 paper lengthwise. On the folds, line up the template and hold in place with paper clips. While the directions call for sewing the two trees together, tape will also work.

• Snowflake Ballerinas : Sugar Plum fairies ala "The Nutcracker.