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BERNICE HARRISON on alternatives to movies and the mall

BERNICE HARRISONon alternatives to movies and the mall

Bah, humbug, but every Christmas generates a lot of extra packaging waste – an estimated 54kg per household. This year South Dublin County Council is running a Christmas decoration competition. The only rule is that the decoration has to be made out of the sort of things that usually go in the recycling bin, from egg boxes to old CDs, bits of paper and broken toys. The closing date is December 18th. sdcc.ie.

For something a lot more collaborative, children aged from five to 10 can go along to a free Christmas decoration class at Draíocht Galleries, at Blanchardstown Centre in north Dublin today. The idea is that the children will make the decorations to go on the huge tree in the arts centre’s foyer. Wear clothes you don’t mind getting messy. It runs from noon until 3pm. draiocht.ie.

For lessons in making Christmas decorations from holly, pine cones, berries, leaves and other natural material, there’s a workshop at Séamus Ennis Cultural Centre in Naul, Co Dublin, at 2pm today. €8. 01-8020898, seamusenniscentre.com.