St. Knut’s Day is fast approaching (Sunday), which means it’s time to let the kids loot the Christmas Tree! Traditionally in Sweden, Christmas Trees might have been decorated with edible decorations, including gingerbread ornaments, candy canes, crackers and sweets. On St. Knut’s Day (the 13th day of January), kids were allowed to loot the tree and munch on all the edible (albiet stale) ornaments. In our case, the only sweet we have left hanging on our tree is one lonely candy cane.
I’m fond of this holiday not because I’m of Swedish descent (because I’m not), but because it gives me a cultural nudge to take down my tree, otherwise “O Tannenbaum” would be left standing through Valentine’s Day! So on Sunday our daughter gets to gorge on ONE WHOLE candy cane!
But then what do we do with our Christmas Tree once we’ve taken down the ornaments? I like Kara’s idea… her family takes their tree outside in the yard and props it up in the snow. Then she and her twin boys decorate the tree with stale bread, popcorn, birdseed pine cones and cranberries, thus creating a holiday tree for the birds and other wildlife. Clever!
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THIS WEEK’S LIST OF SUGGESTED EVENTS IS SPONSORED BY:
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If you have a family-friendly event or educational program happening in Western Massachusetts that you’d like to let us know about, or would like to submit your event to the Hilltown Families calendar of Suggested Events, email Sienna at swildfield@juno.com. Comments are warmly welcomed!
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Events Happening in the Hilltowns
Saturday – 01/12/08
8am – FAMILY RADIO – (Air Waves) While traveling around town, tune-in to WXOJ 103.3 FM in Northampton, MA, from 8-10am to hear fabulous family-friendly music on Spare the Rock, Spoil the Child. [All ages] (Free)
9am-1pm – PARENT WORKSHOP – (Hadley) The Hartsbrook School is offering Developmental Stages of Childhood: A Road Map for the Journey, a workshop with Nancy Foster. In this workshop, participants will be offered a reliable guide by looking at the stages of child development and the interesting challenges that accompany the child’s (and parent’s) journey through these stages. 413.584.3598 [Parents] ($$)
10am-1pm – NATURE PROGRAM – (Ashfield) The Path of the Otter, the series of three Saturday earth awareness and nature exploration classes begins. Click HERE for program details. [Ages 5-7] ($$$)
10am – Noon – CLAY ADVENTURES – (Pittsfield) Join ceramic artist Nancy Magnusson for Clay Adventures for Kids at the Lichtenstein Center for the Arts. No registration ncecessary. 413.298.5252 [All Ages] (Free)
10am-Noon – NATURE PROGRAM – (Easthampton) Discover Winter Plant and Animal Survival at Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary with Rebecca Moretti. Children will play a game in which they act out the different survival strategies such as hibernation and migration. Dress warm as much of this program will be held outdoors. Pre-registration is requested. 413.584.3009. [Ages 5 & up] ($)
11am – FIRST AID FOR CHILDREN – (Cummington) Do you take care of a baby under one year? Do you feel you would know what to do in an emergency? Would you like to practice how to handle choking on a training doll? Taught by Ed Vivier, Middlefield EMT. Designed for people with no experience – No test/certification. Offered with the CFC’s “Baby and Me” program for parents and babies under one year at the Cummington Community House Where: Cummington Family Center. 413.238.5511 x155 [Adults] (Free)
1pm – 2:50pm – ICE SKATING – (Greenfield) The Collins/Moylan Memorial Skating Rink will have a public skate. Skate rentals available. 413.772.6891 [Families] ($)
1pm – FAMILY PERFORMANCE – (Amherst) At the Eric Carle Museum is a performance in the auditorium, Music and More! This is an interactive program featuring songs, books, finger play, movement, and animal puppets. Families are welcome to sing and dance to traditional favorites and interactive songs while Michael and Linda play guitars, banjos, and percussion instruments. 413.658.1100 [Families] (Free w/ museum admission)
4pm-6:50pm – ICE SKATING – (Amherst) There will be a public skate at the Mullins Center Ice Rink. Skate rentals available. 413.545.3990 [Families] ($)
6pm – ART PERFORMANCE & POTLUCK – (Shelburne) The Art Bridge hosting a community potluck preceeding their Mystic 3-Ring Circus performance. There will be music, magicians, belly dancing, fire dancing, jugglers, clowns, puppeteers, and more. 413.625.8275 [Families] (Donation)
8pm – DATE NIGHT! – (Goshen) It’s time to square dance! Round up your partner/friend and head over to the Town Hall in Goshen, MA for some dancing. Ralph Sweet is the caller. [Adults] (n/a)
Sunday – 01/13/08
St. Knut’s Day
1pm – 2:50pm – ICE SKATING – (Greenfield) The Collins/Moylan Memorial Skating Rink will have a public skate. Skate rentals available. 413.772.6891 [Families] ($)
2pm-4pm – ART PLAYSHOP – (Shelburne Falls) Come Create a Cardboard Village with recycled gift wrap and holiday cards at the Children’s Art Museum. Bring your old holiday cards wrapping paper and small boxes (match boxes if you have any). 413.625.2030. tlemos@valinet.com [All ages] ($)
2pm – MUSIC – (Amherst) The Hevreh Ensemble at the National Yiddish Book Center. Part of the Winter Music Festival. Reservations suggested. 413.256.4900 [Families] ($)
3pm-5pm – ICE SKATING – (Easthampton) Open ice skating every Sunday at Williston Northampton School’s Lossone Rink. Bring your own ice skates. 413.529.3000 [Families] ($)
3pm-4:50pm – ICE SKATING – (Amherst) There will be a public skate at the Mullins Center Ice Rink. Skate rentals available. 413.545.3990 [Families] ($)
Monday – 01/14/08
1pm-4pm – HOMESCHOOL CLASS – (Easthampton) Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary offers a Monday Winter Homeschool Class beginning today and running through 03/17/08. Homeschool children are invited to join their winter session focusing on wildlife of Massachusetts. Registration is required. 413.584.3009 [AGes 5-10] ($$$)
1pm – ICE SKATING FOR PARENTS & TOT – (Greenfield) The Collins/Moylan Memorial Skating Rink will have a public skate. Skate rentals available. 413.772.6891 [Families] ($)
2pm-4pm – HOMESCHOOL CLASS – (Shelburne Falls) Monday Afternoon Art at the Children’s Art Museum begins today and runs through 03/08/08. 413.625.2030. tlemos@valinet.com [All ages] ($$$)
4pm-5pm – OUTDOOR ADVENTURES – (Chesterfield) Outdoor Adventures for Kids in the Hilltowns at the Chesterfied Base Camp. Through age appropriate activities, young kids can explore their surrounding environment and learn about our ecology through indoor and outdoor activities and games. Click here for more information. 413.296.4249 [Ages 5-7] ($$$)
Tuesday – 01/15/08
1pm – ICE SKATING FOR PARENTS & TOT – (Greenfield) The Collins/Moylan Memorial Skating Rink will have a public skate. Skate rentals available. 413.772.6891 [Families] ($)
1:30pm-2:30pm – RESEARCH TRAINING CLASS – (Northampton) The Forbes Library is offering a Research Training Class in their Community Room. Parents (and older children) interested in learning how to conduct research to aid their children in their own class-work or home-study research are welcomed to attend. The Forbes Library gives you Internet access to indexing and full text of millions of articles from thousands of magazines and newspapers. Explore the Gale Powersearch interface, which pulls information from multiple sources using special search tools. This service can be used from home or anywhere with an Internet connection, using your library card to sign in for free. No preregistration is necessary. 413.587.1012 [Ages 10 & up] (Free)
6pm-9pm – PARENT WORKSHOP – (Northampton) For the Children is a supportive parent education program that focuses on the needs of children of never married parents. Through videos, discussions and presentations, topics include: vital role of parents, cooperative parenting, pitfalls to avoid, understanding your childs needs, supporting children. Parents with children in common are required to attend separate sessions. Pre-reg is required. 413.586.4597 [Parents] ($$)
7pm – FAMILY RADIO – (Air Waves) Tune-in between bath and bedtime to the Hilltown Families very own radio show, the Hilltown Family Variety Show, on WXOJ LP 103.3 FM, Valley Free Radio out of Northampton, MA. www.valleyfreeradio.org. [Families] (Free)
Wednesday – 01/16/08
10am-2pm – HOMESCHOOL CLASS – (Shelburne Falls) Wednesday Home Schooling Coop at the Children’s Art Museum has some spots open this winter. 413.625.2030. tlemos@valinet.com [All ages] ($$)
Noon-1:50pm – ICE SKATING – (Amherst) There will be a public skate at the Mullins Center Ice Rink. Skate rentals available. 413.545.3990 [Families] ($)
1pm – ICE SKATING FOR PARENTS & TOT – (Greenfield) The Collins/Moylan Memorial Skating Rink will have a public skate. Skate rentals available. 413.772.6891 [Families] ($)
Thursday – 01/17/08
1pm – ICE SKATING FOR PARENTS & TOT – (Greenfield) The Collins/Moylan Memorial Skating Rink will have a public skate. Skate rentals available. 413.772.6891 [Families] ($)
Open till 8pm – LOCAL LIBRARY – (Williamsburg) Did you know the Meekins Library stays open until 8pm every Thursday? A great thing to have in the winter months. Take the kids in their PJ’s and spend time at the library before bed time reading stories or getting help with homework. [Everyone] (Free)
7pm – FAMILY PERFORMANCE – (Amherst) Performances of The Music Man beginning at the Bowker Auditorium at UMass. 413.259.3065 [Families] ($$)
Friday – 01/18/08
10am-11:30am – PARENTING WORKSHOP – (Florence) Sarah Patton, a licensed early childhood mental health consultant, will be leading a parent education worskhop at the Lilly Library, Understanding Temperament: Why do kids do the things they do? This workshop is designed to help parents better understand their children’s behaviors while giving effective strategies for increasing cooperation and lessening power struggles. Call to register for free childcare. 413.582.2636 [Parents] (Free)
11am-1pm – HOMESCHOOL ICE SKATING – (Amherst) There will be a homeschool skate at the Mullins Center Ice Rink. Skate rentals available. 413.545.3990 [Families] ($)
5pm – COMMUNITY DINNER – (Ashfield) Elmer’s invites community members to come together to share dinner and conversation every Friday evening. Click here for menu 413.628.4003 [Families] ($)
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Just a quick note for people planning to attend Children’s Art Museum (CAM) classes it is VITAL to pre-register so that we have enough materials on hand and are prepared. The sooner the better so that we can run programs that are well organized and smooth. A simple phone call 413 625 2030 or an email is all it takes.
Thanks,
-t
St. Knut’s Day? That is SO COOL! Our family tradition is to take down the tree on the “Twelth Day of Christmas”. That’s when the girls get to eat the gingerbread house as well…wonder if I could get them to hold out for St. Knut’s Day before munching on the stale house?