The span of time between Thanksgiving and the New Year used to be my favorite because not only did I get to eat great food and run around with my cousin, but I also got time off from school, played in the snow and celebrated my birthday. It didn’t get better than that. As I grew older, the novelty of buying gifts for people wore off as the fake wreaths and sugarplums marched into the seasonal section of stores before Halloween was even over. I turned into a Grinch, refusing to buy gifts or even a tree as a silent protest against the commercial appropriation of my favorite time of year.
What I’ve come to understand in the last couple of years is that I can make the holiday season just as magical as I remember without selling out to the big-box version of a winter wonderland. In the following pages you can find ways to inspire your creative side in everything from alternatives to wrapping paper to edible gifts and games to play with your family. And if none of that strikes your fancy, then mix yourself a nice peppermint martini and have a dance party with the naughty playlist. We’ve got something for everyone because that’s what this season is about.
Check out the Fly Blog to see some awesome holiday ideas!
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The Mississippi Free Press produced this story through the MFP Solutions Lab, supported by the Solutions Journalism Network. This series digs into Mississippi’s systemic issues and sheds light on responses to them in other communities. Beyond just reporting on problems, these stories interrogate their causes and inspect potential solutions.