The female gift of creativity
All photos courtesy of Molly Mahon
It’s not Father Christmas, elves, Lidl or M&S who make the festive magic happen. It’s women. A predominantly female army of silent project managers festoon the tree, conjure decorations, diligently write cards, wrap gifts and cook dinner. Ditto: Diwali, Hanukkah, Eid, Chinese New Year and Thanksgiving. It’s largely the effort, stamina and creativity of women that makes these celebrations happen on time, year after year. Not to say men don’t contribute or play a role – but I suspect it is mainly women who do most of the planning and heavy lifting to manifest these big days.
I’ve always been struck by this quiet and unassumed female attribute, one that often goes undeclared but does so much to enrich the lives of others. This gift of creativity, drawn from the heart and mind is freely given, and translates into many things: food, presents, hospitality, parties and might be called other things: duty, life, stress, the way things are, a load of hard work. All this making of memories requires vision, imagination, organisation, problem solving and orchestrating which is a creative skillset, even if many women don’t recognise it as such.
Turning the banal into beautiful and domestically dreary into something more delightful is a creative channel for many women and this isn’t an unfeminist or unsisterly aside. These legions of women might not be artists with a capital ‘A’ or making an entrepreneurial go of it, flogging handicrafts on Etsy, but this urge to create motivates many who find satisfaction through pursuits associated with home and family. Martha Stewart built an entire empire on this idea and it’s worth considering as table decorations are automatically planned, fairy lights habitually arranged, and seasonal chutneys prepared in jars.
When in 1968, Dr.George Land conducted The Creativity Test, he concluded creativity is not something that is learned, but is rather unlearned. As young children, we make up games, paint, draw, play instruments and sing, but at some stage, most of us will classify creativity as a childish thing to be put away for the serious business of maturity. But creativity is serious; a life of stymied or repressed creativity can have a negative impact on health and wellbeing.
This quiet, everyday female creativity that makes the world go around spans generations. Our mothers did it and their mothers before them, taking resourcefulness (making ends meet, rustling up something from odds and ends) and bright ideas in their stride, fashioning a more fulfilling life for themselves and those around them. In her book, Big Magic (2016) Elizabeth Gilbert writes, “a creative life is an amplified life. It’s a bigger life, a happier life, an expanded life, and a hell of a lot more of an interesting life.”
While in the festive context, this creativity is about spreading happiness and a positive experience, it also brings benefits for the gifter – or creator. Creative activities can reduce stress and anxiety, cultivate a state of flow, keep things fresh and interesting, build personal confidence and bring people together.
Creative pursuits are often used to support recovery after mental illness and living a fulfilling life can help individuals live longer. ‘The world just seems brighter when you make something that wasn’t there before,’ said writer, Neil Gaiman and that’s just as true for a figgy pudding as it is a book of fantasy fiction. So, let’s lift our glasses to the gift of female creativity without which life would be unbearably grey. Happy Holidays to all the women who make our holidays happy!
Nilgin Yusuf is a writer and regular TNMA contributor.
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Discussion (15 Comments)
Amanda Sebestyen says:
Yes, lovely and true. I add that for those of us who are older and have had the luxury of storage space to ‘hoard’, this is where our stored materials come into their own and we can create fun and beauty without frenziedly getting and spending.
Julie Bowland says:
Throughout life’s ups and downs, the one thing that has sustained me and given me unending joy, is the ability to be creative.
As a child when I struggled at school with maths and the like, I realised my brains were in my hands, whether it was figuring out the maths with coloured blocks (why did they stop that?) or doing the artwork for the school pro-diction, it pulled me through school and an often traumatic childhood. It gave my children a magical experience of Christmas, birthdays and hallowe’ens, to finally seeing my Son being an outstanding and inspirational High School Art Teacher and Artist himself and now when they return home for Christmas, the cycle is complete…Creativity, I thank you for everything @cornercroftyorkshirePatricia Cockett says:
Oh you’ve just given me a lovely memory- those blocks I think were called Cuisenaire blocks and I loved using them
Madelaine says:
Ah thank you. Not only do I feel like someone has finally spotted what I’ve been doing for the past forty or so Christmases while I’ve been an adult and managing the whole festive jollity thing, but also what my mum and no doubt her mum before her did. I feel as if my fire has been re-ignited to make some MORE Christmas chutney for gifts around the table…! What a lovely post. Many thanks.
Vivienne says:
Absolutely agree with the comments already made, and very much enjoyed the article and the beautiful photography. It’s life-enhancing to make something rather than buy, although when my kids were small and I was working full-time, the thought of making a wreath for the front door myself would have tipped me over the edge – yet I have done it this year (admittedly I’m not working right now!).
I used to often say to my numerous male colleagues (to puzzled looks from them) that I envied men at Christmas because it just all happens for them!JoanCecile says:
Oh, this post is filling my heart. I image being seated at the charming table (I see the paper chains in the background!) And maybe getting to know Nilgin and the lovely women writing here today. I’ve nodded along with each comment. Sending wishes to all for a glad heart and glowing season.
Alison Fulton says:
Totally validated how much effort women go to, to make occasions special. Shared to my Facebook.
Hear, hear!!! Excellent and affirming article. Much appreciated!
Cindy from Canada says:
Nilgin, this is a wonderful article. I am finding creative ways to keep a positive attitude after my cancer diagnosis. For me, this is not about gift wrap, colorful bows and table cloths. I believe in kindness and a smile EVERY DAY, not just during the month of December.
Shyma says:
I love this! Thank you so much for sharing. I remember every Eid, my mum would be in the kitchen for hours, preparing food for sometimes 100 and then cleaning the entire house and getting her kids sorted! All by herself. Women really are SUPER-human ❤️
gab moody says:
Thank you for this needed post. My mother died suddenly on Christmas Day 5 years ago – and since then I haven’t been quite on my game at Christmas. I go through the motions but my heart is heavy. Gabrielle x
Deborah 
Beth 
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I agree wholeheartedly with what you have written here Nilgin. Thanks for this post.
I love the floristry and the decorating.
Yesterday I made a wreath for the front door with foraged holly and ivy and recycled ribbon and pinecones and ornaments using florist wire. I enjoyed every moment of this creative endeavour. I do this every year and the pleasure of creating rather than purchasing the completed thing.
Best wishes to all for the holiday season