Are you in charge of hosting Thanksgiving this year? Whether it be your first time or your fifteenth, hosting and cooking for this big occasion can be a milestone moment. We asked award-winning designer David Tutera to share his tips for Thanksgiving hosting & what the holiday means to him.
Are your kids looking for something to do on Turkey Day … other than patiently wait for the bird to roast in the oven? This Thanksgiving craft idea will keep the little ones busy while you cook up a delicious feast for the family, and you’ll have an adorable centerpiece that your guests will rave about as they gobble down their food!
Construction Paper (or colored cardstock or foam)
Scissors
Glue
Sunflower bouquet*
Googly eyes or candy eyes
*The Harvest Glow Bouquet is the perfect arrangement to use for this craft.
One of the greatest days of the year is almost here – Thanksgiving! What plans do you have to celebrate this year? Will you be having friends and family over to your house, or will you be attending a Thanksgiving dinner party? If your schedule includes heading over to someone else’s home this Thanksgiving, you know the drill – you should never show up empty handed! That said, today, we wanted to share some of our favorite Thanksgiving hostess gift ideas – here are a few things you can bring:
Think of your tabletop as a blank canvas on which you will create your “tablescape” art. You choose your mediums as any artist would—your surface, linens, flowers and candles. The layering of colors and textures, adding personal touches, all play a part in the delight and ambiance that a beautifully designed table brings to a special occasion. Go as big or as simple as you want! This is your masterpiece, and should represent you and tell the story that you want told.
Let’s start with simple! Here are a few easy, creative and inexpensive ideas that I hope will provide some inspiration to get you started on your tablescape art.
Singles’ Day began at Nanjing University in China. It was initially called “Bachelor’s Day” since it started out with only young men celebrating the occasion, however, it is now celebrated by both genders. The holiday is celebrated on November 11th (11/11) because of the four single “ones,” and the Chinese name of the holiday, “Guanggun Jie,” appropriately translates to “bare sticks holiday.” The occasion started in the 1990s and has been spread throughout China and beyond. It was created to help stop the negative connotation surrounding the idea of being single, especially in universities. The holiday is celebrated with fun, uplifting activities to enjoy the fun of being single!
What better way is there to meet new people and enjoy your single life more than singing your heart out and dancing the night away? We couldn’t think of any either, which is why Singles’ Day often involves parties and karaoke!
Day of the Dead or Dia de los Muertos is a Mexican holiday to honor and celebrate loved ones who have passed. Originally an Aztec harvest celebration, the Catholic influence of the Spanish conquistadors combined it with the traditions of All Souls’ and All Saints Day, and the celebration now starts the day after Halloween and runs for 2 days (11/1 & 11/2).
There are so many beautiful traditions associated with Dia de los Muertos – the colors, music, sentiment, and a few iconic symbols such as the Sugar Skull! Whether you’re going big or small this year, here are a few ideas for ways that you can personalize and bring this celebration of loved ones’ past into your Dia de los Muertos.
The most iconic symbol of Dia de los Muertos is the Sugar Skull. Mexicans choose to celebrate the lives of their dearly beloved and the skull symbolizes death but in a positive way. Living in a country abundant in sugar production, they began to create beautiful clay molded sugar skulls that were decorated with flowers and colorful icing that represented departed souls.
Here’s an easy way to go from Halloween to Day of the Dead and keep the party going!
What Is Day of the Dead?Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos), is a holiday that is celebrated annually on November 1st and 2nd to honor and remember those that have passed on. The holiday resembles All Saints Day and All Souls Day, which are celebrated after Halloween on the Christian calendar.
First developed in Mexico, the Day of the Dead is most notably celebrated in Latin American regions, although it is becoming increasingly popular throughout the United States, too!
When the Aztecs first began observing this occasion over 3,000 years ago, their ultimate goal was to honor and celebrate the deceased as their spirits returned, not necessarily to mourn those who are no longer with us. While it is definitely still a time of reflection and remembrance, the main focus is to celebrate the lives that our loved ones lived.
Once a year in autumn, during the darkest new moon in the Hindu month Kartik, Hindu communities and temples will shine bright with millions of candles and lamps. This celebration, known as Diwali – or the festival of lights – dates all the way back to ancient times! Diwali 2019 is celebrated on October 27th and for several days after, depending on the family’s religion and traditions.
The traditional name of this holiday, Deepawali originates from the Sanskrit words deep, meaning light and avali, meaning row. Depending on the region and religion, the duration of the festival (3-5 days) as well as the history and origin of the holiday may vary. Although Diwali is mainly a family affair, Diwali is also a religious day for many Hindus. Many celebrate the holiday to bring prosperity and good health to their families.
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Let’s keep the iconic-Halloween-symbol-3D-floral-design thing going! This time, it’s all about the candy corn. Does anyone actually eat candy corn, or is it just for crafts and decor projects? Whatever people do with candy corn, they do a lot of it; according to the National Confectioners Association, approximately 25 million pounds of candy corn are sold annually! That’s a lot of kernels… so plug in those glue guns and get crafty! Here are a few decor ideas and a few candy-inspired beverages for young and old ghouls and goblins!
Your door is the first thing your guests see when they arrive to your home. Express your style and decorate all year long with simple, one-and-done pieces like wreaths! These warm decorations filled with lush florals and ambient colors will make you wish that it’s Fall all year round. Take some inspiration from our top Fall Wreaths to get started on your own fall home decorating!
