By Ansie van der Walt
They work in a communal setting where women from different generations work, tell stories, and discuss village life, and so their crafts, oral traditions, life skills, and wisdom are passed on from generation to generation.
I also know about cultural crafts that do not exist anymore, where young girls went to school and adult women went to work, leaving the older women alone. Craft traditions faded away and skills were lost. It is a sad story, mostly told with regret.
It makes me wonder how often we still get together in inter-generational groups to do crafts.
I know of many local craft groups and the wonderful sense of community and belonging they provide, yet they almost exclusively consist of older adult women.
When I ask about the children, I learn of kids’ craft groups or children being taught by their families at home, but I don’t know any groups where women of all ages, including young children work together in a communal setting.
Children have to start with basic skills, but shouldn’t they be included in the community of stitchers from the beginning? Children are fantastic conversationalists. They have imagination, innocence, humour, and from time to time, the most profound wisdom.
Crafting community
Few other seasons are so anticipated, planned, and budgeted for than the end-of-year festive season. During this time, we are most likely going to spend time with our children and grandchildren, aunts and uncles, nephews and nieces, cousins, siblings, and in-laws.
Although we’ve all heard, or experienced, a few hair-raising stories about family gatherings, it is still a special opportunity to belong to a clan. To love and be loved. To be part of a multi-generational community.
Plans for the season usually focus on things to give, places to go, and festive food. Next year and the years beyond are not on our radar yet. Why don’t we change it this year?
Instead of giving a gift, let’s give a legacy.
Instead of dreading the time, effort, and expense, let’s use it to learn about and teach each other.
Can you make lace? Or churn butter? Or cook soap? Or speak another language? Teach these skills to your young ones. Do you have a workshop full of tools and strange machinery? Teach your kids and grandkids how to make something. Make a game of it. Write it down, take photos, or make a recording. Let them teach you how the new tech works. Everything from a sewing machine to an old radio or a film camera can open up a new world of possibilities.
They may not make a masterpiece but they will make a memory. And you won’t have a holiday, you will have a legacy.
