Distinctive Decorating for Holy Days

An Exciting Occasions Project

"Gather ye together with the utmost joy and fellowship and recite the verses revealed by the merciful Lord. By so doing the doors to true knowledge will be opened to your inner beings, and ye will then feel your souls endowed with steadfastness and your hearts filled with radiant joy." (Baha'u'llah: The Importance of Deepening, page 188)

Distinctive Decorating for Holy Days

Gifts:
Small gifts are an excellent way to sprinkle decorations around your home or office. Try giving any or all of the following:

Candies (3-5 chocolate kisses for example) wrapped in tissue with bow and gift tag

Folded paper star ornaments. See how-tos.

Small vials of bubble-liquid (commonly distributed at weddings), decorated with floral stickers, or self-adhesive labels that read "Happy Ayyám-í-Há"

Fasting Journal - A place to write down your thoughts and revelations that occur during the fast. Make a small booklet of 19 or more pages, which lists days of the fast, the sunrise and sunset time in your area, and an inspirational quote for each day.

Decorative Pencils/Pens or other dignified novelty item which has the words, "Happy Ayyám-í-Há" printed on them.

Small tealights or votive candles. For Ridvan I located some lovely floating candles shaped like open roses.

Small framed quotes wrapped as gifts.

Small gift bag filled with a few of the above "celebration items" and/or other things like an inexpensive plastic kazoo, hard candies, printed inspirational (joyous) quote rolled up like a scroll and tied with thin fabric ribbon, silk flower, small bottle of rose water, etc.

I arrive early each morning of Ayyám-í-Há and leave these an item on each of my co-workers desks before they arrive for work. At home, leave an item on each family member's pillow, or place setting at the table (breakfast or dinner).

Decorations: Here are some simple ideas for decorating your home or office during the Holy Days. I hope you will try some and let me know how it works out, what variations you've tried, or other decorating ideas that might be new to me.

Framed Quotes and Flowers: A dignified, elegant, inspirational, and educational way to decorate your home and office.

Supplies: You will need an equal number of frames, quotes, doilies, vases, and flowers. Optional: gold-mesh wire-edge ribbon about 1/2" wide, gold pray paint)

Purchase some small gold frames, or recycle some old frames transforming them with a can of good quality gold spray-paint. Make sure to remove and clean the glass before painting.

Choose some quotes that are appropriate for the day or season you are commemorating and type or print them in an elegant font on parchment-colored paper. Cut them to fit the frames if necessary.

Purchase or make 8" white or ecru crocheted doilies. Or, you can buy or make small fabric mats with finished edges to set down beneath the frames.

Faux Frosted Glass: A fun way to temporarily decorate the windows and mirrors in your home to match a theme.

Supplies: You will need a can of "Glass Wax" (a product usually used for cleaning glass that dries to a white opaque appearance and then is rubbed off); stencils or large rubber stamps used for home decor in the pattern of choice (I use rose shaped stencils and stamps); tape; sponge; foam or stencil brush; food coloring; wax pencil.

If you do not have access to rubber stamps or stencils you can make your own:

For a stencil use clear "contact paper" or a thin sheet of plastic (or sturdy cardboard but it will get soggy so you may need to make several), draw pattern on shiny side and cut with a craft or x-acto knife. Take some of the stickyness away from the backing by pressing your hand to it a few times, you want the stencil to be repositionable.

For rubber stamps, cut pieces of kitchen sponge into simple shapes and use as is, or for more complex designs use old rubber mouse pads, or new rubber shoe insoles, into desired pattern and glue onto a piece of sturdy cardboard or wood.

Choose a decorating theme: during the festival of Ridvan you may wish to fill your home with "roses" as the early believers filled Bahá'u'lláh's tent with roses; for Ayyám-í-Há perhaps you could decorate with 9-pointed stars

Choose a color palette: Glass Wax natually dries white and this is fine all by itself, looks very much like frosted glass. But, you may wish to add a slight hint of color by adding some drops of food coloring. Try to keep the colors you choose consistant throughout your home or decorating area.

To apply the wax to your glass using a stencil, pour a little of the wax onto a plate or other washable flat container, color as desired, position your stencil or the galss and hold in place using tape or your hand, dip your sponge or brush into the wax and pounce, stipple, or dab it onto your stencil. When the stencil has been filled with a thin layer of the wax, lift it up carefully and allow to dry.

To apply the wax to your glass using a stamp, pour a little of the wax onto a plate or other washable flat container, color as desired, dip the stamp lightly into the wax, blot on a piece of paper towel or test on a scrap of glass (like a picture frame), then press the stamp firmly but carefully in place, lift slowly and allow impression to dry.

To remove the wax (after it has dried) just rub firmly with a dry cloth or paper towel.

Send me photos of your successful holiday decorating!

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