The holiday season celebrates so many wonderful U.S. traditions. From trimming the tree to baking holiday treats, Americans both young and old have much to look forward to as Hanukkah and Christmas approach. But what do the holidays look ... Read more
YULETIDE GREETINGS – December Activity Ideas
Once celebrated as the midwinter festival that occurred between December and January, the term “Yuletide” is another way to refer to the holiday season. The word “yule” is found in many holiday traditions, including carols, cakes, and even ... Read more
HOLIDAYS OF YESTERYEAR – December Activity Ideas
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Each holiday celebrated in December has a wealth of traditions and rituals that bring a sacredness and nostalgia to the season. As you unwrap the month, slow down with your group in order to ... Read more
THE WONDER OF THE HOLIDAYS – December Activity Ideas
No matter your holiday traditions, there is something magical about the winter holiday season. Anticipation fills our hearts while the month unfolds, leading us closer and closer to a mystical celebration. However your group celebrates this ... Read more
ALL IS BRIGHT – December Activity Ideas
Light up your community as you plan December activities and events. This month can be especially busy for all of us, but with the right planning and assistance, we can make the holidays bright for everyone. We wish you a month full of ... Read more
FROM ATLANTIC TO PACIFIC – December Activity Ideas
Perry Como sang all about traveling home in his classic song, “Home for the Holidays.” In the month of December – traditionally full of Christmas cookies and hot chocolate – challenge yourself (and delight your group members) with a travel ... Read more
COMFORT AND JOY- Activity Ideas for December
December is full of reasons to celebrate, and it is the perfect month to focus on Comfort and Joy at your community. The holiday season can be a happy one for some, but for others it can be a time of increased depression, anxiety, and even ... Read more
SOUNDS OF THE SEASON
A familiar holiday song proclaims, “It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas.” But suppose the lyric were changed to “sound a lot like Christmas”? What would that mean to you? What sounds do you associate with the holiday season? Is it ... Read more
YEAR IN, YEAR OUT – Activities for December
Days, weeks, months, years – oh, how time flies! Before this year comes to an official end, your group might enjoy some sessions that focus on the passing of years. We all have a version of “It seems like just yesterday…” The activities ... Read more
DECEMBER, THE TWELFTH MONTH
How time flies! We’ll soon be entering the twelfth and last month of the year. Winter officially arrives during December, just as the holiday season is in full swing. The month is associated with family gatherings, special meals, festive ... Read more
CHRISTMASTIME – ‘TIS THE SEASON
The Christmas season is a great time for making memories. Etched in the minds and hearts of many older adults are childhood images of an old-fashioned Christmas – homespun, simple, uncomplicated. Although the holiday has changed a bit over ... Read more
HOLIDAY MUSIC MEMORIES
"Jingle Bells," "White Christmas," "Silent Night." Listen carefully, and you'll soon hear the sounds of the season. Many families have a tradition of listening to holiday music. Music enriches the meaning of the holiday in many ways. What ... Read more
CHRISTMAS NOSTALGIA
"It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas," just like the song says. Time to pull out some of your holiday music. Do you have a favorite carol or hymn? What do you think about when you hear the song? Many older adults can name one or two ... Read more
HOLIDAY NOSTALGIA
The holiday season is often a flurry of activities - from shopping and baking to decorating and entertaining. Among older adults there is often a genuine yearning to return to simpler times when a plain, old-fashioned Christmas was the ... Read more
CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY MEMORIES
Which holiday memories hold a special place in your heart? Listening to "White Christmas" on the kitchen radio, baking a batch of Christmas cookies with your children, or trekking through the woods in search of the perfect Christmas tree? ... Read more
NEW YEAR’S CELEBRATION
Resolutions, songs, confetti, parties, noise, and a little bubbly - soon it will be time to usher in a new year. A familiar expression of the season is "Ring out the old, ring in the new" from poet Alfred, Lord Tennyson. Ring a bell and ask ... Read more
GIFT-GIVING SEASON
Webster's defines the word gift as something given voluntarily and without compensation. Set a brightly wrapped Christmas gift on a table for your group to view. Ask: What makes a wrapped present a true gift? Did they mention that true ... Read more
