0 Decorating for Christmas with corn husks

In the village of Dalung, Badung, a creative Catholic community has spent the days before Christmas crafting various attractive decorations using uncommon materials, mainly dried corn husks and rattan. They have been focusing their aesthetic energy on beautifying Rumah Khalwat, a Catholic retreat in the village’s Tegal Jaya hamlet. Initially, they constructed an 8-meter tall Christmas tree made of rattan. “The tree gave birth to another idea. We put the rattan side by side with some dried corn husks and found the colors went beautifully together. 

That’s why we decided to craft the other decorations with dried corn husks,” Sabaro community coordinator Andre Romes said. Established in 2010, the community has experimented with alternative materials in the past. In 2011, community members collected used papers and newspapers and produced a unique array of Christmas decor. In the previous year, the main material used was faded batik. Eventually, five large gunnysacks full of dried corn husks were brought into Rumah Khalwat, where members of the community used their free time to fashion stars, flowers, angels and a complete Nativity diorama. 

This “production” period had served as both an opportunity for the community’s members to pursue their respective aesthetic sides and a valuable chance to strengthen their relationships with each other. “Basically, we are doing it for the church, to make Rumah Khalwat a beautiful place this Christmas. So, we would not sell our products on the market, despite the fact that there is an increasing demand for them.” He recalled that the community participated in an agriculture and handicraft expo in November and their Christmas dolls made of corn husks recorded high sales. 

The dolls’ prices ranged from Rp. 25,000 (US$2.60) to Rp. 100,000. The corn husks were washed with clean water before being sundried. The dried husks were then ironed to smoothen the appearance. “It is very easy to get the husk since the corn traders usually consider the husks to be nothing but waste.” On Sunday, Rumah Khalwat was bedecked with all the beautiful and glittering decorations made of dried corn husks. Those who are travelling along Jl. Raya Dalung, possibly on their way to Kuta, should stop by to admire the decor.

source : bali daily