But what! I hear you exclaim as you read. Ghosts are Halloween, and not Christmas…
Perhaps it is easier to think about the spirit of Christmas. It might be an accident whether you think of Santa Clause, Sinterklaas, Santeclaus. Much has been written about connections with Father Christmas, Yule, Saturnalia. But is there something deeper about gift giving, lights in darkness and a suspension of the normal order of things when the night is at its longest and we wait for summer to return?
In the run up to Christmas 2024 we have been making space for making in the Loreburne Centre. People have dropped in and encountered surprises from their past. they have worn hats (and other clothes) plucked from the stream of time and have taken selfies with shields.
By ringing a bell they have made time for stories, or have simply sat and watched fish swimming into a river labyrinth. On the tables young and old have made board games, leather pouches and jewellery from left over and discarded things.
In doing so we make space to discover, though making, what ghosts of Christmas past we have experienced. We have explored possibilities about what the spirit of Christmas might be, and lay the groundwork for finding out what might happen in the future. We aim to help people see things differently, ask questions, and get a taste for looking for answers.
This weekend we will be in the Loreburne centre on both Saturday and Sunday for the last weekend of Making Christmas 2024
Please drop in for a chat, to make something, or just to relax in the space.
