To help keep you inspired and engaged, our Living Well Team created a variety of themed activities and helpful resources.
The theme for the this set of resources is light and fire.
You can use the links below to quickly jump to different sections of this resource page. Use them to navigate to the content you’d most like to access.
Religious and cultural traditions
Poetry
Activities
Art and music
Further reading
We hope you enjoy the content, are inspired to get creative, and active too. We would love to hear from you, so let us know how you get on with the resources. You can email your feedback and pictures to us.
Religious and cultural traditions
Advent
How much do you know about the Christian festival of Advent, which begins at the end of November? Take a look at this interesting article to find out more. You can test your Advent knowledge, and learn about other religions’ festivals of light, by clicking this link.
Diwali
Also known as the festival of light, Diwali is one of the major festivals celebrated by Hindus, Jains and Sikhs around the world. Read more about the celebration in this article.
Getting cosy with Danish hygge
Read about hygge, pronounced ‘hue-gah’, a Danish way of living which prioritises creating comforting, cosy spaces to relax, recharge and boost your wellbeing. As one of our contributors writes:
“A few years ago, I was given The Little Book of Hygge – The Danish Way to Live Well by Meik Wiking. It is a book that illustrates ways to make ourselves feel comfortable and, during this pandemic year, we all need to look after ourselves in the best way possible.”
Follow this link to read the article, and to find out more about hygge click this link to go to the Visit Denmark website.
Christmas
Did you know many of the popular Christmas traditions are rooted in the ancient Pagan festival Saturnalia? Or, that Santa Claus was originally depicted wearing blue and white and green? Read more in this fascinating article, All about Christmas – what you may or may not know.
Poetry
Take a look at this short presentation on the power of poetry, including details for a free Kindle book featuring poems on the theme ‘light’. What is your favourite poem? What does poetry mean to you? Is it a good companion, comforting link to the past, or a challenge?
The Tyger, by William Blake, is famous for its opening words: “Tyger, Tyger burning bright; in the forests of the night”. Follow this link to read the rest of the poem, written in 1794.
Autumn Fires, by Robert Louis Stevenson
In the other gardens
And all up the vale,
From the Autumn bonfires
See the smoke trail!
Pleasant summer over
And all the summer flowers,
The red fire blazes,
The grey smoke towers.
Sing a song of seasons!
Something bright in all!
Flowers in the summer,
Fires in the fall!
Activities
Quiz time!
Do you know which mythological figure stole fire from the Gods, to give it back to man? Or who famously set his guitar on fire at the Monterey Pop Festival? Test your knowledge with our fire-themed quiz!
Recipe
Spicy foods are often described as being ‘fiery’. The heat from chilis is measured by the Scoville Scale, with the Carolina Reaper declared the hottest pepper in the world in 2017!
If you prefer something a little milder, why not try making a spicy marrow chutney? Follow this link for the recipe. The chutney goes well with mature cheddar cheese!
Art and music
Artemisia Gentileschi was an Italian Baroque painter, now considered one of the most accomplished 17th Century painters. She was known for depicting the female figure with great naturalism, and for her skill in handling colour to express dimension and drama. One of her most-famous pieces is Judith beheading Holofernes, painted in 1613.
Find out more about Gentileschi’s work in this PowerPoint presentation, where you can also read how painter Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio used light and dark in his work.
Light is often used when creating modern and contemporary art. Take a look at Artland’s top 10 light artists.
Music
How many songs can you name with ‘fire’, ‘light’, or ‘stars’ in the title? Follow this link to see our song suggestion list on the theme of this month’s resource page.
Further reading and interesting links
January will see the grounds of Longleat Country Estate illuminated for a spectacular show, The Land of Light. Read more about what to expect, by following this link.
Follow this link to read about the warning beacons of Worcestershire, and how they have been used over time.