Festive walking – ‘tis the season
This coming week over two billion people will celebrate Christmas, and while many of those won’t actually be Christians who attach any religious significance to the event, for most it’s an opportunity to slow down, take a pause, and spend some time with family and friends. After the consumer frenzy is over, the too-large Christmas meal is eaten, and the presents are unwrapped, there’s another tradition to enjoy, and for me it’s best part of the celebration – a festive walk.
It's a great way to get some physical activity after a rich meal and also has the added benefit of diffusing any family tensions. It’s hard to stay in a bad mood when you’re hoofing about with muddy dogs and people in silly jumpers and Santa hats.
Pick a place to walk you find soothing, or a path you haven’t explored before, and recruit fellow walkers. Those in the city can enjoy the added benefit of reduced traffic. If you don’t have a festive walking tradition, why not start one? You could spice it up with a creative element or a challenge? How about a scavenger hunt, with a list of things to find, such as “dogs wearing costumes” or “best Christmas wreath on a door”. Or try an evening Christmas light walk through a neighbourhood you know has great lighting displays. Or what about a Christmas photo walk? Pick a route and encourage your friends/family members to take photos of the funniest Christmas displays, or winter birds and wildlife.
And speaking of challenges, why not use the Christmas/New Year break to enter our haiku challenge? For our Jan 7 writers' salon Words to Light the Dark, our hosts Wainwright Prize-nominated authors Sophie Yeo, Polly Atkin, and Chantal Lyons invite you to compose a haiku on the theme of 'writing wild places into being'. Head to Bluesky, follow our account @walklistencreate.org and share your haiku with the hashtag #WLChaiku by Jan 5, 2025. One lucky haiku-ist will win a special prize!
Also coming up January 16, you’ll have a chance to see our postponed December Walking Writer’s Salon, Colonial Britain Revealed. Richard White and Corinne Fowler will have an illuminating conversation about how the British countryside has been shaped by colonialism.
Until then, peace and goodwill to all, and happy walking!
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Writer, walker, digital storyteller, psychogeographer
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2025-01-07 19:00
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What can the planet’s past tell us about the future? How do we relate to nature when our bodies try to keep us from it? And how do you write about creatures that don’t wish to be found? Join Wainwright Prize-nominated authors Sophie Yeo, Polly Atkin, and Chantal Lyons – host of this Salon and walk · listen · create’s... Keep reading
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