Mabon

Autumn Equinox (also known as Mabon or Harvest Home) is celebrated when day and night are of equal duration before the descent into increasing darkness and is the final festival of the season of harvest.

In nature, the activity of the summer months slows down to the hibernation for the winter. For many Pagans, now is time to reflect on the past season.

It is also a time to recognise that the balance of the year has changed, the wheel has turned and summer is now over.

Astrologers will recognise this as the date the sun enters the sign of Libra - the Scales of Balance.

Now is the time to gather! in our ancestors time this would have been a very busy period. Gathering what can be from the hedgerows and storing it and making it into jams,chutneys and medicines for the winter.

Following on from the Elderflower collecting at summer solstice, myself and little one collected the elderberries to make into jam and syrup and the blackberries to also make into jam.

http://www.learningherbs.com/herbal_cold_remedies.html

Again another brilliant opportunity to to identify plants and understand how flowers turn into berries! not to mention just getting outside!

Amazing craft opportunities arise when the leaves start to fall!

 

 

 

 

 

Collect the leaves and place between books to flatten, place in between some sticky back plastic (clear book covering) don't forget to place the clear thread inside also. When the leaves are inside the clear plastic  cut around the leaf shapes and hang onto a twig to make a pretty mobile.

 

You could also throw in some leaf and tree identifying into the mix!

 

 



http://createwithyourhands.blogspot.co.uk/2011/11/autumn-leaf-bowl.html


The above is one of my friends rather creative blogs!! The above picture is one of her and her families creations. The concept is similar to how you do paper mache.

 

 



Smudge stick making! grab your herbs,we chose sage,rosemary and thyme........if your stuck for herbs in the garden or you dont have a garden/window box,then supermarkets do them allready in bunches!!
wrap your herbs together and hang to dry. This is another good way of getting children exploring with their hands and nose and identifying the herbs they are using! These smell amazing whilst drying too.

Summer solstice!

Solstice, or Litha means a stopping or standing still of the sun. It is the longest day of the year and the time when the sun is at its maximum elevation.

As the sun spirals its longest dance,
Cleanse us
As nature shows bounty and fertility
Bless us
Let all things live with loving intent
And to fulfil their truest destiny
Wiccan blessing for Summer

This date has had spiritual significance for thousands of years as humans have been amazed by the great power of the sun. The Celts celebrated with bonfires that would add to the sun's energy, Christians placed the feast of St John the Baptist towards the end of June and it is also the festival of Li, the Chinese Goddess of light.
Like other religious groups, Pagans are in awe of the incredible strength of the sun and the divine powers that create life. For Pagans this spoke in the Wheel of the Year is a significant point. The Goddess took over the earth from the horned God at the beginning of spring and she is now at the height of her power and fertility. For some Pagans the Summer Solstice marks the marriage of the God and Goddess and see their union as the force that creates the harvest's fruits.
This is a time to celebrate growth and life but for Pagans, who see balance in the world and are deeply aware of the ongoing shifting of the seasons it is also time to acknowledge that the sun will now begin to decline once more towards winter.

Summer Solstice at Stonehenge

Revellers typically gather at Stonehenge, the ancient stone circle in Wiltshire, to see the sun rise. The Heel Stone and Slaughter Stone, set outside the main circle, align with the rising sun.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/paganism/holydays/summersolstice.shtml


The time to celebrate the sun in all its beauty and power, as its also the longest day, the daylight hours will slowly decrease about a min a day until we reach winter solstice (the shortest day).

Now the weather is good (we hope) its even more of an excuse to celebrate outdoors and to learn and enjoy outdoor crafts.

Gathering the elderflower!

We have been outside gathering the elderflower heads to make into cordial (and champagne!). This is such a good way to celebrate with children, it enables them to use their skills at identifying the correct plants and those around them (our child is 3 and she did this with ease). Its a great way to see nature, go for a walk and be able to install a understanding of where and what can be used for food and drink. Also a great way to use maths at a basic level.

We used this recipe, it was amazingly simple,quick and easy! you will be hooked and amazed if you try it.

http://britishfood.about.com/od/recipeindex/r/efowercordial.htm

one for the adults!

http://www.channel4.com/4food/recipes/chefs/hugh-fearnley-whittingstall/elderflower-champagne-recipe#comments-top

Fruit picking   again another fantastic way to celebrate solstice is to go fruit picking, there are loads of places around to go and do this and of course the "fruits of your labour" can be made into many recipes/cakes and jams. If you make jam, these of course may be used for presents for Lammas!   Sun catchers   These can be made very simply. you can cut out the shapes you wish, and use coloured tissue paper on them so the sun can shine through. Another method, is to use sticky back plastic, sprinkle what you want on them and then stick the other side down. Tricky sticky, but worth it. Paper mache also looks great as a sun catcher, or pretty bowls etc.       Grow sunflowers! Always a hit! such pride watching these grow.   Watch the sunrise   If your brave enough to welcome the sun. If you don't want to travel to a big stone circle, may research your area? are there any places of interest? small circles/old stones/ round barrows.....or just a special place to you, the garden maybe. maybe camp out (even in your garden! ) this will always be great fun to small people, and watch the sun come up. Sunrise is early during the summer months however!   http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/astronomy.html?n=136

Beltaine!

Beltane is a Celtic word which means 'fires of Bel' (Bel was a Celtic deity). It is a fire festival that celebrates of the coming of summer and the fertility of the coming year.
Celtic festivals often tied in with the needs of the community. In spring time, at the beginning of the farming calendar, everybody would be hoping for a fruitful year for their families and fields.
Beltane rituals would often include courting: for example, young men and women collecting blossoms in the woods and lighting fires in the evening. These rituals would often lead to matches and marriages, either immediately in the coming summer or autumn.
Other festivities involved fire which was thought to cleanse, purify and increase fertility. Cattle were often passed between two fires and the properties of the flame and the smoke were seen to ensure the fertility of the herd..
Fire is still the most important element of most Beltane celebrations and there are many traditions associated with it. It is seen to have purifying qualities which cleanse and revitalise. People leap over the Beltane fire to bring good fortune, fertility (of mind, body and spirit) and happiness through the coming year.


www.bbcreligons.co.uk

Beltaine!

I love Beltane, its one of my favourite festivals. (its my birthday festival,so even more reason to celebrate!)
I love the earth emerging from spring, the greenery, everything flowering! and that's what its about the fertility of the land. There is usually a lot to do within communities that can be celebrated with children.
 There are carnivals and "may queen" parades, flower festivals country fairs. Its all happening now summer is emerging!
we went to see "jack in the green" http://home.freeuk.net/bristoljack/. Jack is a mischievous  figure who is led throughout our home town to celebrate the coming of summer. if you are brave enough you can do the whole route, we did the start and the end! (with a little sleep inbetween!).
The children are able to remove the foliage at the end from jack, and there is music too which is great!

Green man masks

decorate paper plates (with eye holes cut out) with leaves. Either use string for either side to make a mask or some ribbon to hang it on.

Tissue paper flowers

using as many colours as you like make flowers out of tissue paper. fold layers in a concertina fold and secure in the centre with green pipe cleaners. Add some leaves to add effect. Either decorate the house or attach to some string as a garland.

If your great at DIY try making a "hobby horse" or a mobile maypole!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Natures-Children-Celebrating-Seasons-Family/dp/1861632851


http://www.ehow.com/videos-on_5222_make-hobby-horse-kids.html

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/diy-making-a-may-pole-for-a-may-pole-dance.html

The Faeries!

An ancient custom is to go out beltaine morning before dawn (or the sun has fully risen) and wash your face in the dew. The dew is said to hold the faeries blessings! The blessing is said to "make you as beautiful on the outside as you are on the inside"
A good reminder that true beauty lies within.

Daisy chains
 a simple daisy chain always looks pretty! if you would like it more exotic use different flowers, to make it sturdier use some florists wire twisted through the chain.

some more links of things i found!

http://www.havingfunathome.com/2012/04/rainbow-hats-from-egg-cartons.html

http://hedgewitchcookingpot.blogspot.co.uk/2007/10/beltane-recipes.html

Spring is here!

Spring Equinox celebrates the renewed life of the Earth that comes with the Spring. It is a solar festival, celebrated when the length of the day and the night are equal (this happens twice a year, at Spring and Autumn Equinox).
This turn in the seasons has been celebrated by cultures throughout history who held festivals for their gods and goddesses at this time of year. Aphrodite from Cyprus, Hathor from Egypt and Ostara of Scandinavia. The Celts continued the tradition with festivities at this time of year.
 Pagans continue to celebrate the coming of Spring. They attribute the changes that are going on in the world to an increase in the powers of their God and Goddess (the personifications of the great force that is at work in the world). At the time of Spring Equinox the God and the Goddess are ofter portrayed as The Green Man and Mother Earth. The Green Man is said to be born of Mother Earth in the depths of winter and to live through the rest of the year until he dies at Samhain.


http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/paganism/holydays/springequinox.shtml

The weather is becoming warmer and spring is apparent everywhere! time to celebrate outside!

My daughter has started to sing a song from the animated childrens programme "charlie and lola", lola's and Lotta's renditition of "spring is here"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHJxqhT_AiQ

How to celebrate with children? ......Go outside ! the weather is warmer so its ideal to explore outside.
we recently celebrated the equinox with fellow pagans and children at a local park, we went on a hunt to see what we could find in the way of flowers etc. We collected fallen flowers and sticks and made pretty pentegrams to further decorate at home. We made pictures with what we found and we had an equinox egg hunt (with chocolate eggs!), this went down well! and the egg is an amazing symbol of the new life that spring has brung.


Celebrating the birds!

to celebrate the birds returning home, go outside with a fieldguide(maybe one aimed at children) and see how many birds can be spotted, make a game of it, see if nests can be spotted.
make or reuse bird feeders and put out hair from hair brushes for their nests.

Dawn watching

if your brave enough get up early to watch the dawn, spring is about new life, the earth's waking.
the children will be able to see and hear the early birds as well as the sun rising.
make a toast to the sun with juice or whatever is appropriate in your family


http://www.amazon.co.uk/Celebrating-Great-Mother-Earth-honoring-Activities/dp/0892815507/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1333393766&sr=1-1


Egg balancing

find out the exact time of the equinox, rumour has it you can balance an egg on its end at this exact moment!?
fun trying.......or messy!

Cooking
 using anything thats in season or egg orientated! chocolate nests are always fun to do

http://www.ehow.com/how_2001078_eggs-toast-eggs-nest.html
http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/10484/easter-nests

Crafts
anything egg or spring orientated, spring pictures, paper daffodils, egg shaped garlands

http://www.momsandkids.co.uk/crepepaperdaffodil.tpl

Gardening

Our daughter has enjoyed this the most , as have we. Now is the time to plant almost anything. Now anyone who knows me knows iam not v good with plants!, but it seem our little person is! we have been planting food, lettuces. Great to encourage fussy eaters. Good things to plant that children love are the classics, cress on the windowsill, this takes about a week and the process can be seen on an almost bi daily basis and sunflowers!, these seem quite a sturdy breed and of course the fun is to see how tall they can be grown.



For older children that are interested there are many guided meditations suitable on youtube

Craft ideas and other links
worth a look some really good ideas!
http://www.growingupcreative.com/2010/03/5-eco-kids-craft.html


Goddess bless.xx

Spring equinox planting

Planting seeds in eggs, the eggs nourish the seeds as they grow and can be planted straight into the earth. The eggs and seeds themselves symbolise new life!

Spring equinox egg planting

This is so practical , the egg shells feed the plants and can be planted in the soil and the seeds and the egg symbolise new life!

Crocus hunt,beautiful crocus in an inner city park

A sea of crocus

Snowdrop walks

Imbolc and how we celebrated

imbolc is about the returning sun, the increasing of light!. Its also about the earths first stirrings, the earth awakening , its the snowdrops and the crocus pushing through the earth into the light.

willow (my little person, she is 3 ) and i went on a few walks, woodlands parks and other green spaces to see if we could find the snowdrops to see the earth changing.
To let her feel it for herself
we would then do pictures when we returned home.

Another craft idea to celebrate imbolc was to make a "candle crown". These were originally a wreath with real candles of light within them. For safety reasons we made our crown with pretend handmade candles! we made a yellow strip of paper and measured willows head, we then made some long strips and decorated them in yellow/golds and reds and made them look like lit candles. We then wore our crowns when we had our meal!

You can also make a "circle of light" with candles made from the cardboard in the loo rolls, decorated to look like candles!

To celebrate the sun , we did paperplate suns, painted yellow and decorated, then we added willows hand prints to the outside to form the suns rays!

The pre school willow attends were very interested and asked how they could celebrate with the children, so they too did sun plates and a huge sun between them , which will hang up in the preschool!

For older children there is a Brigit doll and a bridie cross to hang on the door!
http://www.goddessandgreenman.co.uk/imbolc_candlemas
The above link also gives a recipe for imbolc cake!. a brilliant idea to do with children.....anything with seeds in is fine as this represents new growth!

Make a bird feed hanger to feed the birds at this cold time
http://www.rspb.org.uk/youth/makeanddo/activities/birdfeeder.aspx

Imbolc

Imbolc (pronounced 'im'olk' also known as Oimelc) comes from an Irish word that was originally thought to mean 'in the belly' although many people translate it as 'ewe's milk' (oi-melc).

Imbolc was one of the cornerstones of the Celtic calendar. For them the success of the new farming season was of great importance. As winter stores of food were getting low Imbolc rituals were performed to harness divine energy that would ensure a steady supply of food until the harvest six months later.

 Imbolc celebrations centre around the lighting of fires. Fire was perhaps more important for this festival than others as it was also the holy day of Brigid (also known as Bride, Brigit, Brid), the Goddess of fire, healing and fertility. The lighting of fires celebrated the increasing power of the Sun over the coming months.

 Rituals and activities might include the making of candles, planting spring flowers, reading poetry and telling stories.



welcome

welcome to sharing ideas and sharing fun, i wanted to start this blog to share with others how we celebrate the wheel of the year with our daughter and hopefully gain insights how other parents celebrate with their little ones!