Frolic Off-Seasonally

Because I was moving into my new place in December and then I visited family out of state for Christmas, I was too busy to do most of the fun holiday-related activities I like to do the weeks before Christmas. I didn't decorate my house or put up a tree. I didn't bake cookies or make presents. There was a wreath making event at church which was a relaxing two hours in which I created a wreath to hang on my new door. I attended a women's Christmas brunch and visited Our Lady of the Snows, a place with lights and a petting zoo. For New Years, even though I was sick, I managed to attend a party, but mostly sat like a lump in my friend's papasan the whole night. (I had fun, anyway.)

Now that I am better and I have settled more comfortably into my apartment, I found that in the middle of January, I did nothing but watch Christmas movies, bake, and eat too much. I didn't intend to spend my time in that way, but I called it "Christmas in January" because I suddenly had the space and time to FEEL the Christmas spirit.

If you think of the various holidays, either here in America or wherever you are from, there are many activities that coincide with celebrating these days and seasons. Giving presents, blowing out birthday candles, baking, doing crafts like making paper garlands, setting off fireworks, barbecuing, singing special songs, dying eggs and then searching for them in the brush, having costume parties, or telling someone "I love you." I love the routine and traditional foods, activities, and customs of holidays, but sometimes in the off-season when there are no holidays, the day to day can seem a bit drab.

Rest between holidays is welcome, but during those moments when you feel unenthusiastic about life, add a bit of surprise and spice, by mixing up the holidays! Why not bake a cake for a mundane Monday evening and bring it out after dinner with candles ablaze while you sing "Happy Monday to you!" Your family or roommates might give you an odd look and check your temperature to make sure you're feeling okay, BUT you will have spiced up a normal day! Ideally, they'll laugh with delight and then you can blow out the candles together and eat!

The men in my church are holding a BBQ this month...in February...in St. Louis...on a day that will surely be frigid, possibly snowing. I thought it was a brilliant idea! Why not mix up the status-quo now and then? If you are home all day with children, dye some eggs together and send the kids searching for the eggs around the house even if it is only February, or better yet, the middle of July. If your state allows fireworks, buy some and (safely) set them off, on a Wednesday, in the middle of March. A friend of mine attended a "Masque of the Red Death" Halloween costume party in October. It was such a hit, the friends decided to hold another costume party in February, this time dubbed a "Masquerade." Any day is a great day to say "I love you" but how about riff on the Christmas tree theme and cover the tree in your front yard or a house plant in your hallway with little wrapped gifts or love notes attached to the branches for your loved one to find one morning? President's Day is coming up, so why don't you and friends dress as your favorite Presidents and walk around the neighborhood in a group singing patriotic songs?

The possibilities for off-season galavanting are innumerable (and potentially hilarious)! Now, go enjoy your weekend and don't forget to PLAY!