Fight winter doldrums by celebrating green

We don’t know about where you live, but here in the Northwest where the sun seems to have left the planet, in January, people find themselves feeling irritated and moody.

Luckily, while we may not have any say in whether the sun shines, we can choose to succumb to grumpiness or figure out ways to get past it.

Instead of focusing on feeling as dull as the sky, how about celebrating?

What’s to celebrate in January, you might ask? Lots!

We’ll bet it wouldn’t take long for your family to come up with a half dozen things they’re grateful for despite the weather. Concentrate on those things and create your own new, personal, family holiday.

First on the agenda, figure out the focus of your celebration. It could be Mother’s Day Too (focused on Mother Earth), A Celebration of Rain, or whatever else you and your family can come up with. Once you’ve got a name, think about activities.

Make up games based on ones you already know. For instance, Pin the Tail on the Donkey can be reworked in any way you choose: Pin the Handle on the Umbrella, Pin the Ski Pole on the Skier, you get the idea.

Regardless of the weather, plan some outside activities. If you want to focus your holiday on nature, how about considering what you can do for overwintering birds? Rolling pine cones in peanut butter, then bird seed and hanging from tree branches is an eco-helpful way to celebrate. Or hit the workshop and build a few birdhouses. Research where to best hang them for the birds in your area. While birds probably won’t take up residence immediately, you could mark the day when they do with another special celebration!

A great addition to any special event is a digital or video camera. Assuming you already have one, you avoid printing pictures and use only online means to display them, there is little cost to the planet or your pocketbook. Come up with ways to celebrate your day by staging a photo contest. One idea is to choose a subject related to your party theme, give everyone the camera for a few minutes and see who comes up with the best picture. Or create a skit or puppet show around your holiday idea, then record it and replay at next year’s celebration.

When it comes to food—what’s a celebration without it?—again, look to your holiday theme to create inventive menus. Kid friendly recipes are widely available on the web. Better yet, use your imagination and come up with appropriate, fun, even silly versions of foods your family enjoys. Come up with a name, i.e. “rain soup” or “snowy potatoes,” then figure out how you’ll make it!

The whole idea is to create a day full of fun, activities and food that is uniquely yours. Of course, you’re welcome to invite the neighbors. They’re sure to enjoy a little green pick-me-up this time of year.