Forget the Bling Bling, do the whanau thing this Christmas

3 December

Forget the Bling Bling, do the whanau thing this Christmas

The Mental Health Foundation (MHF) has rewritten the 12 Days of Christmas song with no-cost gifts people can give for Christmas.

The new twist on a familiar favourite Christmas song is in support of the ‘Forget the Bling Bling, Do the Whanau Thing’ campaign which was initiated three years ago.

Chief executive Judi Clements says the MHF is proud of its connection to the campaign as it is a good example of how to relieve stress and anxiety related to the season.

“Christmas has become so commercialised; there so much pressure to buy, buy, buy. The credit card can take a real hammering at this time of year and people are left with the stress of paying off debt.

“Communities are starting to rethink the way they celebrate Christmas. Spending time with family is what is important and there are lots of low-cost or even no-cost things people can do to make Christmas special.

“And of course giving is one of the MHF’s ways to wellbeing. Giving doesn’t have to be expensive – giving your time, your words or your presence is often more useful than an object,” Ms Clements says.

The 12 Days of Christmas song suggests gifts like shoulder rubs, art work from grandchildren, meditation training, home-made scones, a hand in the garden and even Gangnam dance lessons.

The MHF is also putting posters into Auckland libraries with the ‘Forget the Bling Bling, Do the Whanau Thing’ message. Vouchers, which can be filled in for whatever gift a person wishes to give and postcards which can be sent to people who live at a distance, are also available from the campaign’s facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Forget-the-bling-bling-do-the-whanau-thing/171172189632197?ref=hl).

“All you need to do is think about what talents and unique gifts you have that you can share with a family member as a gift,” Judi says.

The rewritten 12 Days of Christmas song is as follows:

Forget the Bling, do the whanau thing – 12 Days of Christmas

On the first day of Christmas my whanau gave to me a treasured old family recipe.

On the second day of Christmas my whanau gave to me a hand in the garden and a treasured old family recipe.

On the third day of Christmas my whanau gave to me three books at bedtime, a hand in the garden and a treasured old family recipe.

On the fourth day of Christmas my whanau gave to me a walk down the beach, three books at bedtime, a hand in the garden and a treasured old family recipe.

On the fifth day of Christmas my whanau gave to me a batch of home-made scones, a walk down the beach, three books at bedtime, a hand in the garden and a treasured old family recipe.

On the sixth day of Christmas my whanau gave to me meditation training, a batch of home-made scones, a walk down the beach, three books at bedtime, a hand in the garden and a treasured old family recipe.

On the seventh day of Christmas my whanau gave to me seven foot rub vouchers, meditation training, a batch of home-made scones, a walk down the beach, three books at bedtime, a hand in the garden and a treasured old family recipe.

On the eighth day of Christmas my whanau gave to me art work from the mokos, seven foot rub vouchers, meditation training, a batch of home-made scones, a walk down the beach, three books at bedtime, a hand in the garden and a treasured old family recipe.

On the ninth day of Christmas my whanau gave to me nine gangnam lessons, art work from the mokos, seven foot rub vouchers, meditation training, a batch of home-made scones, a walk down the beach, three books at bedtime, a hand in the garden and a treasured old family recipe.

On the tenth day of Christmas my whanau gave to me 10 minutes for a chat, nine gangnam lessons, art work from the mokos, seven foot rub vouchers, meditation training, a batch of home-made scones, a walk down the beach, three books at bedtime, a hand in the garden and a treasured old family recipe.

On the eleventh day of Christmas my whanau gave to me a new family photo, 10 minutes for a chat, nine gangnam lessons, art work from the mokos, seven foot rub vouchers, meditation training, a batch of home-made scones, a walk down the beach, three books at bedtime, a hand in the garden and a treasured old family recipe.

On the twelfth day of Christmas my whanau gave to me 12 reasons I’m important, a new family photo, 10 minutes for a chat, nine gangnam lessons, art work from the mokos, seven foot rub vouchers, meditation training, a batch of home-made scones, a walk down the beach, three books at bedtime, a hand in the garden and a treasured old family recipe.

ENDS

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