The Peppermint Pig

Old Trunks learned of peppermint pigs while looking for a unique activity for residents in a nursing home. We had started a time capsule several years before which included list of residents and what they wished for in the new year and the front page of the newspaper. The event needed a finish and the peppermint pig was a perfect fit. The expression on the resident's faces while coming down with the hammer is pure determination!

Then, I retired.

Last year, Rachel and Ryen had such a good time crashing the peppermint pigs with a hammer! I promised them I would send them pigs for the holidays this year. Now is when I need that mailman to come through for me!

The pig is honored in Victorian holiday tradition. They were first molded in 1880.

They are a symbol of good health, happiness and prosperity. The concept is to put the pig in a red velvet bag, pass the pig in the bag around the table with the hammer and have each person hit the bag. Once the pig is broken, everyone has a piece of peppermint.

The idea is to remind us of a wonderful time when red-cheeked children laughed and rode old wooden sleds over fresh snow, when church bells pealed and warm memories were shared by a gathering of family and friends.

Perhaps you would like to Google "peppermint pigs" and enjoy this activity with your family. Or, get your imagination going and come up with a way to break something peppermint and share it at the family table sometime during the holidays.

Oink!

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