Celebrating WINTER!!!!

Here in Eastern Ontario we are fortunate enough to get to experience 4 distinct seasons… on December 21st we pause and reflect in the wonder that is WINTER!

The season begins with Winter Solstice celebrations…where we reflect on the changing of the season,  the darkness that surrounds us and the promise of more light to come. (really…a beautiful reason to celebrate, don't you think?) Light some candles, wear yellow, bake a sun cake, the light is coming soon! As a parent this is a great season to reflect and focus on bringing  some "light" heartedness into your parenting.
Some other dates to mark on your calendars: Winter Solstice December 21 Christmas Eve December 24 Christmas Day December 25 Boxing Day (also St Stephens Day) December 26 New Years Eve December 31 New Years Day (also St Basil's Day) January 1 Epiphany January 6 Imbolc/Brigit February 2 Valentines Day February 14 St Patricks Day March 17

To honour the changing of the seasons, Matilda and I decided to make a Winter Solstice Queen. As you can see she wears the cool colours of winter, but on her head she is crowned with the light of the sun!!!
To make your own you will need: "angel" shaped peg doll blue, brown, black and red paint blue glitter snowflake punch tissue paper yellow felt glue Below is a step by step on how to make her…it's fairly self explanatory with the pictures.

Let's pause for a little winter verse:

Snowflakes falling soft and light,  Snowflakes falling in the night, Soft and Light, pure and white. When the sun shines out so bright, All the earth is dressed in white.

We also made some white "stars/snowflakes" out of kite paper. To make your own you follow the instructions below! You will need 16 4x3 inch rectangles…we used 8 white, 4 light blue, 4 dark blue. I use a glue stick to put it all together and also to hang it up.

OUR WINTER READING!!

Here are some of our favourite Winter themed books: The Tomten by Astrid Lindgren The Snow Child by Freya Littledale Grandmother Winter by Phyllis Root The Story of the Snow Children by Sibylle von Olfers Around the Year by Elsa Beskow
Winter is such a magical time of year…we try to get outside for about a 1/2 hr to an hour a day… (unless it's dangerously cold, which does happen sometimes). Tobogganing, snow angels, hot chocolate, fires in the wood stove, baking, skiing, skating, winter picnics, building snowmen, igloos, snow forts, snowball fights, winter walks,  (and you can collect pinecones for crafting along the way) And don't forget about feeding the birds, squirrels and other struggling creatures!

just get on out there and enjoy this magnificent season… oh…and check out our WINTER craft section on Twig and Toadstool for more inspiration! In wintery wonder…