Does anybody decorate for Thanksgiving?

[Yasmine Galenorn]

I tend to take down the obvious Samhain decorations and leave up the harvest oriented ones through the day after Thanksgiving, which is when I put up the tree. I was thinking about getting a few little things just for the Thanksgiving table though. I don't think I want a ceramic turkey--I find that a little kitchy, so any ideas?

Yasmine

[FlyingBear]

I would put up things that reflect what you're grateful for. That and food. Especially the three sisters; corn, squash and beans. Maybe a pretty jar with layers of different beans in it. Gourds of every kind around with your autumn goodies of leaves and wheat sheaves. Bake up loaves of thick, crusty bread. If you have them, placing antlers somewhere gives the reminder of the change of the seasons. Decorate them with acorns strings and mini pumpkins.

Pictures of home, or maybe the home you want. Pics of you, Sam and the kitties. Acorns and windfallen apples. Coloured candles, fall coloured ribbons, and things that make home a cozy den for the winter. Have a ritual for your bed; where you cleanse it and bless it. Get some really terrific sheets and maybe a new thick blanket, all in colours that welcome and make you want to hop in and snuggle down. Add more throw pillows and make it your altar for winter, after all we're all sleeping an extra hour! YAY!!

I usually boil up some cider spices up on the stove for that homey touch, but then I'm big on smells.

Winter is the time when we calm down, cool off and gather up for the oncoming *BOING* of spring. Reflection, warmth, and being mindful of the blessings and lessons we have in our lives.

Anyway, that's what I got off the top of my head.


:tub:

[Yasmine Galenorn]

I would put up things that reflect what you're grateful for. That and food. Especially the three sisters; corn, squash and beans. Maybe a pretty jar with layers of different beans in it. Gourds of every kind around with your autumn goodies of leaves and wheat sheaves. Bake up loaves of thick, crusty bread. If you have them, placing antlers somewhere gives the reminder of the change of the seasons. Decorate them with acorns strings and mini pumpkins.

Actually, I do have a number of squash around (can't eat corn or corn products or wheat or anything like that so don't keep them in the house). Antlers...well, I need a new set. Used to have huge elk antlers for my altar but they went up in my 1999 Samhain bonfire when I purified everything and burnt stuff that needed to go back to the earth.


Coloured candles, fall coloured ribbons, and things that make home a cozy den for the winter. Have a ritual for your bed; where you cleanse it and bless it. Get some really terrific sheets and maybe a new thick blanket, all in colours that welcome and make you want to hop in and snuggle down. Add more throw pillows and make it your altar for winter, after all we're all sleeping an extra hour! YAY!!

LOL...got all that--bought the MOST gorgeous comforter this year and new flannel sheets. (see picture). I think I've got enough out...though there is something I've been wanting if I can still find them--candles in the shape of corn for the table. And a new tablecloth that still matches the color scheme but is a little darker for autumn/winter.

Yazzapanther :colorful:

[Aidron]

My mother used to, and believe it or not I'm almost positive we had some pillar candles in the shape of corn at one point. Don't even bother asking for them, they're long gone with most of our former holiday crap, otherwise I would have given them to you. :lol:

As to the question, we don't decorate anymore really other than Yule/Christmas and even then that is entirely my mother's doing simply because she loves it so much. I don't decorate as I find it tiresome, annoying, and most decorations to be so god awful that I want to puke. Red and green, cornucopias, pilgrim and indian figurines? *shudders*

As for Thanksgiving, I don't even celebrate it. I'll have dinner with my loved ones, but don't dare ask me what I am thankful for on that particular day. It is the holiday I despise most out of all. However, most Thanksgiving decorations are merely autumn ones, and there is such a fine line between the two that it's hard to differentiate. I think the general consensus is to decorate for autumn and let it double as your Thanksgiving decorations.

[Yasmine Galenorn]

As for Thanksgiving, I don't even celebrate it. I'll have dinner with my loved ones, but don't dare ask me what I am thankful for on that particular day. It is the holiday I despise most out of all. However, most Thanksgiving decorations are merely autumn ones, and there is such a fine line between the two that it's hard to differentiate. I think the general consensus is to decorate for autumn and let it double as your Thanksgiving decorations.

LOL...you'd be uncomfortable in our house then. We celebrate Thanksgiving formally, even if there are only two of us and I decorate for Yule like a fiend, though tastefully--no plastic Santas or any stuff like that. Except for our little Yule duck, and he's just cute. We don't celebrate all the Sabbats--some have little meaning for me--and we do celebrate some holidays people may never have heard of. Overall, Samwise and I enjoy our traditions and never do anything that isn't 'us' or that we don't feel like.

I promise I won't ask you what you're grateful for though. :tongueout

Yasmine :colorful:

[DraconisArcanus]

Actually, I do have a number of squash around (can't eat corn or corn products or wheat or anything like that so don't keep them in the house). Antlers...well, I need a new set. Used to have huge elk antlers for my altar but they went up in my 1999 Samhain bonfire when I purified everything and burnt stuff that needed to go back to the earth.



LOL...got all that--bought the MOST gorgeous comforter this year and new flannel sheets. (see picture). I think I've got enough out...though there is something I've been wanting if I can still find them--candles in the shape of corn for the table. And a new tablecloth that still matches the color scheme but is a little darker for autumn/winter.

Yazzapanther :colorful:


Wow the sheets and comforter are awesome. Where did you find them?

Peace!

[Yasmine Galenorn]

Wow the sheets and comforter are awesome. Where did you find them?

Peace!

Bed, Bath & Beyond. Cost a mint, but well worth it, though I notice it's now about $100 lower than when I bought it! The comforter is massively thick and warm. I bought hunter green flannel sheets to go with it.

http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?order_num=-1&SKU=104258&RN=22

I swear, so much of my house has been furnished from that place! Have a gorgeous print on thick canvas (in other words, not framed and looks good w/o one) of the Song of Athena in the bedroom that goes so well with the comforter that came from BBB too. http://www.postercheckout.com/PictureFull.asp?PrintID=27876 Though oddly enough, our print is reversed from this one, like in a mirror.

Yazza :colorful:

[DraconisArcanus]

Bed, Bath & Beyond. Cost a mint, but well worth it, though I notice it's now about $100 lower than when I bought it! The comforter is massively thick and warm. I bought hunter green flannel sheets to go with it.

http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?order_num=-1&SKU=104258&RN=22

I swear, so much of my house has been furnished from that place! Have a gorgeous print on thick canvas (in other words, not framed and looks good w/o one) of the Song of Athena in the bedroom that goes so well with the comforter that came from BBB too. http://www.postercheckout.com/PictureFull.asp?PrintID=27876 Though oddly enough, our print is reversed from this one, like in a mirror.

Yazza :colorful:


Well now I want that print too. /sigh There went this month's mad money LOL Thanks! :yourock:

[Yasmine Galenorn]

Well now I want that print too. /sigh There went this month's mad money LOL Thanks! :yourock:

LOL...the print is exquisite. You could probably find a less expensive copy if you looked and frame it yourself (ours cost $150, not too bad but still pricey). I first saw it in the store and right then knew I wanted it--it represents something very important to me. But I waited to see if I'd still be interested. When I bought the comforter, I saw it again and thought how good it would look with the new bedding. I went out to the car, loaded everything in, looked at Sam and said, "I want that print. I'll regret it if I don't get it and it's gone." He said, "Go get it," and so I did. And I'm so glad....you see, I view that there are five stages in life, not just three. Instead of Maiden/Mother/Crone...Young Lord/Father/Sage, I see the stages as: Child/Maiden/Mother/Queen/Crone, and Child/Young Lord/Father/King/Sage. Queen and King being when we come into our own power...between about 40-65 or so. And I feel that I've entered that stage the past few years as my career has taken a turn the way I want it to and Sam and I've grown more stable in our living situation.

And to me, the Song of Athena, represents the Queen phase...it just screams "Queen--mature vibrant sexy successful woman' to me.

Yazza :colorful: