Nisser, Tomten and Yule Elves are associated with Scandinavia, the winter solstice and winter holiday season. They are known as gift givers, but not the same way as Santa Claus – although like Santa, it is important that you are nice to your Nisse! Nisse can be your answer to Elf on the Shelf for the Yuletide season, if you are a folklorist like me. I first encountered the Nisser when I lived ...
Helping Children Through The Grieving Process
A few weeks ago when I was talking to my best friend on the phone a subject came up that I think all of us struggle with, how to deal with the grief that comes from the loss of a loved one and especially how to help our other loved ones get through it. This past winter her family unexpectedly lost her husband’s father. It was very hard on the whole family, especially since the week before they ...
Infuse Your Life with (more) YUM. YUM is the stuff that feeds not just our bodies but also our spirits. Offering simple recipes and tips, life hacks and tools and little pleasures to infuse life with more of the Good Stuff, the YUM.