Talky Tuesday | Holiday Craft Traditions in Your Culture?

[OliviaZzz]

Hello community

Today is St. Patrick’s Day

Looking back at this time last year, there were quite a few festive projects shared in the community. Posts like St. Patrick’s Day Crafts, St. Patrick’s Day Charm Tutorial, and LUCKY St. Patrick’s Day T-shirt all captured that seasonal feeling in their own way.

It’s interesting how certain holidays naturally come with their own ways of making things.

In our traditional New Year, for example, there’s a long-standing habit of decorating spaces by hand. Paper cuttings on windows are one of the most familiar ones, but there are also fabric hangings and character decorations placed around the home. They’re simple, but they’re closely tied to how the holiday feels.

So today’s topic goes a bit wider.

Do you have any craft traditions around certain holidays in your culture?

It could be something you make every year, something you grew up doing, or just a small project that feels right for a particular season.

Would love to hear what it looks like where you are.

We’ll randomly pick 3 replies to receive 100 Cheers this week

[OliviaZzz]

A quick shout-out to last week’s Talky Tuesday: What Would You Like to See More of Here?

Thanks to everyone who joined in and shared their thoughts. The feedback has been really helpful and will be taken into account moving forward.

Congrats to @Samantha_Bryant, @timmytation, and @Cory_Barger — each of you has received 100 Cheers

[Samantha_Bryant]

Thank you for the cheers, Olivia — and for the reminder that today is St. Patrick’s Day, because I absolutely did not have that on my radar. You basically saved me from going through the whole day completely un-green and un-aware.

As for holiday crafts… I don’t usually make them. I’m not big on creating things that only get to shine once a year, and I’m not really a holiday person in general. Honestly, the only reason I’ve made any holiday crafts lately is because this community is so fun it pulled me into the seasonal chaos. So here I am, participating like a festive little gremlin who wandered in by accident.

And congratulations to @timmytation & @Cory_Barger!

[Lizzie_Golob1]

I make clovers! Cutting some now

[Nat_Wen]

Congratulation @Samantha_Bryant , @timmytation and @Cory_Barger

[Samantha_Bryant]

Thank you!

[Cory_Barger]

Thanks so much @OliviaZzz for the cheers. Big congrats to @Samantha_Bryant and @timmytation as well!

[Mary_Williams]

I am thinking. For me personally, and my family, I can’t think of any yearly holiday crafting traditions. I have made custom Christmas stockings for my family. It wasn’t something I did every year because they would be used the next year.

I’m excited to see everyone else response. I may be inspired to start a new tradition.

[skyicreations]

Its only my second year with this tradition, but I’ve crafted a special St. Patty’s Day Zumba shirt for our Zumba class.

[shirleycobb]

So I’m not 100% if this counts but I have done this with my grandmother and now I do with my kids and grandkids!

There’s something quietly magical about a table dusted in flour, cookie cutters scattered like little holiday constellations , and hands both big and small pressing shapes into sweet dough.

Cookie cutting and decorating isn’t just a tradition… it’s a memory factory.

It’s laughter when the frosting goes a little wild

It’s sprinkles that somehow end up everywhere but the cookie

It’s sneaking a taste of icing when no one’s looking (or when everyone is )

It’s generations passing down recipes, stories, and a little bit of love in every bite

Each cookie becomes its own tiny masterpiece, imperfect and full of personality, just like the people making them. And long after the last crumb is gone, what really lingers is the warmth of being together.

[timmytation]

Thanks for the cheers congrats to @Cory_Barger & @Samantha_Bryant

[kimberlyrudy]

Until a few years ago we didn’t know what our culture was. I was raised in an Italian family … we didn’t craft but we made a lot of really good food. My husband was raised in a family that thought they were German. We found out through ancestry and a test that we are both Swiss. We both came from the same area. Both of our families immigrated to Germany for a number of years on our way to Pennsylvania in the US. Thank goodness we weren’t related …. lol. I would love to look into Swiss traditions and start observing some. If any of you know some of them I’d love to hear about them.

[kimberlyrudy]

Congrats on cheers winners!

[Samantha_Bryant]

Thank you @timmytation & @kimberlyrudy!

It’s so wonderful reading everybody’s stories! I hope you’re all having a spectacular St. Patty’s Day!

[Judi_B]

St.Patrick’s day happens to also be my I made it through brain surgery 1 and got discharged on that day so more reason to celebrate i have gone to shamrock fest when I lived in md but usually it’s corned beef potatoes sometimes green wine but really i keep it simple.

[BellethehowtoGuru]

Oh my gosh, what a sweet surprise to see my doggos pop up. Congrats to @Samantha_Bryant , @timmytation , and @Cory_Barger

Because my mum is American, I grew up celebrating all the traditional U.S. holidays alongside the Australian ones. So my calendar is basically a joyful mash‑up of both worlds. Beyond the big celebrations like New Year’s, Easter, St Patrick’s Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, Australia has its own unique seasonal events and cultural traditions that add even more colour throughout the year.

Easter — with a uniquely Aussie twist

Instead of the classic Easter Bunny, we often use the bilby, a native Australian marsupial with long ears and a gentle face. The Easter Bilby shows up in so many crafts here — from chocolate moulds to kids’ art projects to adorable felt plushies. It’s our way of celebrating native wildlife and raising awareness for conservation.

NAIDOC Week — honouring First Nations culture

One of the most meaningful events we celebrate is NAIDOC Week, which recognizes and celebrates the history, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Crafting during NAIDOC often includes:

• dot‑painting inspired artworks,
• weaving with grasses or raffia,
• story‑based art projects that connect to Country,
• and traditional dancing and community workshops.

It’s a beautiful, respectful way to learn, create, and celebrate together.
This is a dot painting I made for my dear friend. I had to blur out her kids at the bottom so the bottom corner looks weird.

Australia Day — community, colour, and coming together

Australia Day marks the moment Australia became a nation, and many communities celebrate with big street BBQs, outdoor gatherings, and themed decorations. Crafting usually leans into green and gold, native florals, and fun outdoor‑friendly décor. It’s very much a “neighbours chatting over sausages” kind of day.

Christmas in July — because winter deserves its moment

Since our real Christmas lands in the middle of summer, many Aussies love celebrating Christmas in July when it’s actually cold. It’s the perfect excuse for cosy crafts like:

• knitted scarves,
• woolly jumpers,
• felt ornaments,
• and winter‑themed décor that would melt instantly in December.

It’s basically our chance to enjoy the “snowy Christmas aesthetic” without sweating through it.

[BellethehowtoGuru]

Love your Zumba shirts

[BellethehowtoGuru]

Wow, what an event to celebrate. Congratulations getting through brain surgery and recovering.

[Samantha_Bryant]

Thanks so much!

[Donna_Burbey]

I started a neighborhood tradition in 2020. My son left for basic training with the Air Force on the day that our state shut down for COVID. I wasn’t able to go to his graduation, which haunts me to this day. Two weeks after he graduated and was in training, I honored him and those that have served by placing flags next to each driveway on the streets closest to us for Memorial Day - starting with 36 flags. I expanded to about 85 for the 4th of July and by Veterans Day, I was up to 120. I collect them afterwards to save on costs and by then, neighbors were thanking me for decorating the neighborhood and were offering to help. I now have 6-8 neighbors that help each holiday. I made myself a shirt that says Flag Lady on it and we’re up to 245 flags each of the 3 patriotic holidays. My daughter and her family also help and my son is now stationed back in the states, though deployed right now overseas, and he and his fiancee put flags out in their neighborhood. I guess it is a family tradition, too. I like to think of it as uniting the world, one flag at a time.