At the very end of the movie, Legally Blonde, the lead character, Elle Woods, gives the commencement address at her law school graduation. In her concluding sentence, in an incredibly high pitch shrill, she proclaims "We Did It!" As I sit here on New Years Eve to write this article, I cannot think of a more appropriate statement to shout as the clock strikes midnight. In a year full of fear, lockdowns, modifications and changes, there is no doubt in my mind that all of us deserve a HUGE pat on the back for making it through 2020 (or "Did Its" as Elle Woods said). We are all owed a new year full of fun, friends, family, stability and safety; which is why today is a great day to honor the Grecian's New Year's tradition of "rebirth."
For centuries, an onion was traditionally hung on the front door of homes on New Year’s Eve in Greece as a symbol of rebirth. On New Year’s Day, Grecian parents would use that onion as a way to wake their children by tapping them on the head with the bulbous plant. While I do not think your kids would appreciate being bopped on the head today, I do think an onion can make for a simple, symbolic, craft for you and your family to start off 2021!
To make a "Resolution Onion Flower," all you will need is paint, a piece of paper, an onion and a marker.
To start, cut your onion in half. The first half will become the stamp for the center of your flower, while the second half will need to be cut once again into quarters. Dip the first half of your onion into the pool of paint that you placed on the side of your work space. Place the painted covered onion half down onto your paper, approximately 2/3 of the way from the bottom. Next, take one of your quarter pieces and dip them into the pool of paint. Place the painted quarter piece onto your paper in an effort to form the "petals" of your flower. {Note: You can have as many or as little petals on your flowers as you would like. Just know that each petal will represent something new that your child would like to do in 2021}
Once the top of your flower has dried, take your marker to draw its's stem. With that marker, along the "petals", help your child to write something that they would like to do in 2021. Some resolution ideas for kids include: eating healthier, exercising, reading books, taking part in cleaning the house once a week, being kind to others, conserving water, learning something new every day, spending more quality time with family, reducing the time spent on smartphones, etc.
Once the resolutions have been written, you can hang your flower in a common place in your home for your child to see everyday or pack it away until 2022 so that your child can measure their 2021 success!
