Making it happen Christmas around the world

Press, 5 December 1988, Page 14

Making it happen Christmas around the world

Putting the fun back into Christmas is the inspiration behind the “Christmas Around The World” exhibition to be held at Riccarton House, in Deans Bush, until December 11. “The hectic round of office parties and school break-ups leaves so many people wilted and jaded. Having survived the buildup to Christmas, they regard the day itself as a real pain. It is their attitude that needs to change,” said Mrs Marianne Hargreaves, who is organising the exhibition. Simple fun activities such as decorating the home and Christmas tree help put the enjoyment back into the festive season and get people enthusiastic about it again, she said.

Displays at the exhibition representing a number of European countries should fire people’s enthusiasm for Christmas. Each room in the historic house is devoted to Christmas traditios from a particular country.

Spurred by a similar display she had seen in Auckland, Marianne Hargreaves set up the first exhibition last year, based on a Victorian Christmas. This year’s exhibition follows its success. It has led her to some fascinating research. Most of our traditions date back to last century when the Vic-

torians revived many customs derived from pagan festivals celebrating the end of winter. They added a few of their own, such as decorating Christmas trees and sending Christmas cards.

Thus it was appropriate to devote the largest room, the drawing room, to the English Christmas. The dining room has a New Zealand theme, the kitchen is Austrian, the two sitting rooms Dutch and Scandinavian, the bedroom American, the nursery French and the crib Italian.

Each day, there will be a special display in the hall upstairs by each country represented with the addition of Welsh, Scottish and Irish displays on three different days.

Music from each country will accompany the displays from 6 p.m.

A Charles Dickens’ play, “The Cricket On The Hearth,” will be performed outside in the warmth of the summer evenings from 7 p.m. Local groups have combined to contribute to the success of the exhibition. The floral displays are the work of the Canterbury Flower Arrangers. Antique furniture has been loaned by three antique shops.

The admission charge is adults $4, children $2. Proceeds will go to the Red Cross.

West Coast crafts A pre-Christmas exhibition of West Coast crafts is being held at the Several Arts upstairs gallery, at 807 Colombo Street. The wide range of exhibits. from the Inchbonnie and Rotomanu area, are all for sale. They include knitting, crochet, rugs, cushions, soft toys, fishing flies, pottery, quilts and bone carving. All are original items made from local materials. The exhibition continues until December 15.

Festival of heart A five-day gathering to explore social, economic and environmental issues will be held at the Tauhara Centre in Taupo from January 10 to 15. Elaine Dyer and Rex McCann are convening the Festival of Heart Politics, which will aim to reflect on failures and celebrate successes in an open-hearted way. Justice, education, spirituality, health, peace, culture and women’s and men’s issues will all be explored. Personal relationships among those working for change will be a theme.

For details write to Festival of Heart Politics, Tauhara Centre, P.O. Box 125, Taupo.

Organic gardening The organic and bio-

dynamic gardens at Opawa and Dyers Road are needing volunteers.

The Opawa garden is used by the Polytech for courses in organic gardening and the Nature’s Way plot at Dyers Road is a market garden. Volunteers need to have some experience in gardening, but not necessarily organic gardening, and ideally should be available for at least three or four hours a week.

Working at the gardens can be a valuable learning experience. Those who put in 30 hours are given a certificate and a reduction at a Polytech volunteers course. Cheap or free vegetables are also available.

People who might be able to help out can contact Trevor at Opawa gardens at 793-326, and Tremane at Nature’s Way gardens at 841-877.

Permaculture billets

Permaculture "designers” from all over the world will converge on Waipara in mid-January for a conference.

Some of these people will be arriving early and need places to stay for a night or two, before moving to Waipara Boys’ Brigade camp for five days. Anyone able to offer sympathetic accommodation can contact Mary Andrew at 265-701 or else phone 841-877.