For our 10th day of the 21 days of Yule series we are going to be making another set of Garland to go onto our tree. This garland is going to have on it dried oranges and cinnamon and star of anise. Oranges symbolize enthusiasm, happiness, creativity, determination, attraction, success. Cinnamon symbolizes clairvoyance, peace, good luck, love, money, success Star anise symbolizes cleansing, consecration, fertility, gain, good luck, happiness, money, First we cut the oranges then we proceed to dry them. We do this by placing them on a piece of parchment paper on a cookie sheet and baking them in the oven at 275 for 2-3 hours till completly dried. So while that is baking way say a blessing over the cinnamon May prosperity flow into our home and lives. and anise we say a blessing over them. May happiness fill our lives and our home Once the oranges are cool we can start to create the pattern for the Garland. They say a blessing over them. May our lives be filled with not just luck, but love Angelus is in charge of the star of anise Phoenix is in charge of the oranges And Rowan is in charge of the cinnamon We use a needle and string to thread it through each one. After each kid is done with their garland it is then time to put it on the tree.
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On our 9th day of twenty-one days of Yule we are going to be creating something magickal. My youngest son Rowan has really been looking forward to this day we are building gingerbread houses. This tradition of the gingerbread sculpture goes back to an Armenian monk who brought it to Europe in 992. It wasnt made specifically for the holiday season till the 17th century though. This is our first year making them at home we have made it in their school and at a cooking class. For our gingerbread house we actually had a gingerbread house kit that we had purchased the year before but didn't get a chance to build. Each kid got to glue on a wall while I held it to make sure it's straight is an once the frame of the house was completed and dry it was time to get started on the roof which I got to say was a little hard. Now it's time for the fun part to put the decorations and stuff on the outside of the house. It was actually a lot harder then I thought, but I think that is because the kit is a year old. I would hope next year when we make it fresh it will be easier. For next year we are definitely going to make each of us a gingerbread house from scratch.
On our magical countdown we have came to the 8 days if they have the 21 days of you holiday cards to send out to our loved ones. The tradition of holiday cards came from the English in the mid 1800s. I put all the card stock and all the stickers out on the table so they can pick what they would like to use to decorate. I let the kids know who we are making the cards for and then they get to choose how to design it. This is what makes each card that we send out we make special for that certain person. In the end the message is clear that we are grateful for each of these people and each moment that we've had with them this last year. We are also make them to give to the VA hospital and to the animal shelter. We want these organizations to know that we are grateful for all that they do. VA hospitials take care of all of our soldiers who were either injured in war or got ill after they were released from service. Many soldiers come home thinking that they are ok, but they are not and with out these services to help them adjust to normal life. We are grateful for the workers at the VA for helping to take care of our soldiers who have fought hard for our country. We make cards for our local animal shelter, because they help lost animal souls so that they may find a home. Last year we adopted our cat Isis from there, she has blessed our home in so many different ways. Us making these cards helps to teach our children that it's important to acknowledge and thank the people that are helping to make our world a better place.
For our 7th day of the 21 days of Yule we are doing garland. We are going to string popcorn and cranberries in a certain pattern to go on the tree. This is a great activity to do with younger kids especially in pre-k and kindergarten because it teaches then about patterns. This tradition dates back to colonial times when they had an abundance of corn and the Native Americans had an abundance of cranberries. Both plants are sacred; the corn represents life and is a gift from the Great Spirit. The Native Americans considered this berry a superfood. They used cranberries in so many different ways, medicinally, culinary and to dye there clothes, etc. We are going to be popping the popcorn in the air popper. When we place the kernels in the air popping machine that is when we say our blessing over them. Just as this kernel of corn fulfills its destiny let us fulfill our destiny. While the kernels are popping we try not to eat them as they come out but of course if you landed on us and we prepare the Cranberries by saying a blessing over them as we wait. May all our bitter moments turn sweet just like this cranberry turns sweet with the sugars of love and light. We wait for the popcorn to cool and then with a magic wand they are pattern may our pattern begin. Rowan is doing the popcorn Phoenix is doing the cranberries Angelus is stringing each play a part in this magical tree art. For our fifth day of the 21 days Yule we are making salt dough ornaments from scratch. First time actually making these and I thought they came out amazing. We made multiple batches some colored some plain. We gathered all of our shapes we have over 100 to choose from a huge lot that my mother had picked up and had given to Rowan for his "cooking". Since we have so many we are don't have to have to use one twice. We put all the ingredients out and measure them while my husband spreads out the parchment paper so can roll the dough out. I let each kid cut their own ornaments and let them add any special details like glitter, a flower and even an imprint of a lego. I then place them on the parchment paper and bake them now we just sip on apple cider while we're waiting. Now even though these are homemade ornaments they are not edible for animals so will not be leaving these out for the animals to eat when you was over instead we will be buying them to return them back to the Earth Goddess at Imbolc.
Ingreidents One cup of salt 2 cups of plain flour 3/4 cups of boiling water Directions Add salt and plain flour to a boil gradually add hot water mix together until dough forms make sure it isn't sticky place on parchment paper and bake for 2 hours at 200 degrees. On our fourth day of the 21 days of Yule we create a tree topper for our gorgeous tree. I'm going to make a sun and star to go on it. The sun again celebrating the returning Sun God then the star will be in the center of the sun creating a pentacle. The pentacle is a pentagram, which is a five point star that represents each of the elements and is surrounded by a circle. The circle represent the Universe that connects all of us together with the Dieties. I also gather some tree branches to create the star that will become a pentacle. I use a large cardboard to cut out the sun and the yellow piece of construction paper to glue on it. As I glue the paper onto the cardboard I say we welcome the return of the Sun God As I glue the flames on the border of the cardboard I say May the warmth of the Sun God bless our home and our lives As I glue the tree star into the center of the Sun I say May the God & Goddess love surround us Poke a small hole in the back of the sun, center it so that the star will hang perfectly. Then place a 1 inch stick in it so that the star can hang. Make sure it has a knot in the wood so that it doesnt fall out. Glue a toilet paper tube to the back of the sun so that you can place it atop the tree. It took about 6 hrs for mine to dry securely. Once completely dry place the sun on the tree then hang the star in the center. For our third day of the 21 days of Yule we decided to make star ornaments for our tree. Stars have have long been a symbol of many different things in many different religions. They are seen as a symbol of the universe, and are a symbol of divinity. The pentagram which is another term for the five pointed star for Pagans is also a symbol each point representing an element: earth, air, fire, water, and of course spirit. I have the kids gather sticks about 4 inches long and a variety of different widths. They collect two types of The two different trees as a symbol of the oak Kings battle with the Holly King at the Winter Solstice. We each take five sticks and form a star. We use a string to bind each of the points and as we do we say a blessing.
Earth Air fire water spirit Bless our home we will it For our second day of the 21 days of Yule series we are going to be putting solar lights on are our tree. One of the reasons that use these instead of regular lights on our tree is because we are celebrating the returning of the Sun. Yule marks the Winter Solstice the longest night of the year from that point on the days will be longer till the Summer Solstice. These lights require a certain about sunlight during the day so they will light up at night. Now I will say its not a very bright light like the average store bought lights, but the meaning behind it makes it worth it.
One of the busiest time of the years for many families is the Winter months, because of the holidays. In our family we celebrate Yule, December 21, during this time we celebrate the returning of the Sun God that died during Samhain. The fertility Sun God joureyed to the underworld during Samhain, it was at this time that the ground was harsh and unable to yeild any crops. While the Goddess stayed strong and patiently mourned his death we also wait for him to return. He finally does return on Yule and we celebrate this in many different ways in the month of December. For the next 21 days we will be preparing to celebrate and honor the return of the Sun God and the defeat of the Oak King. I created a calendar with the kids As we countdown to yule on the 21st. Having your children create a calendar countdown and writing the things that you would like to do with them on it not only includes them, but helps them get excited for what's to come. Our 21 Day Yule Countdown:
We start by decorating the Yule tree, this tradition came from the Druids who would decorated evergreen trees in the wild to honor the return Sun God. Then the Pagan Scandanavions adapted this tradition by cutting the tree down and bringing it into our home then decorating it. So this year we decided to get a real tree and bring it in then decorate it. We are going to keep it until Imbolc, February 2 when we are going to burn it where we are going to be planting our garden for the upcoming harvest. We bring the tree into our home and bless the tree and give thanks for the spirit of the tree sacrfice. Earth, Air, Water and Fire We thank this Pine Spirit Earth, Air, Water and Fire We bless this Spirit and welcome it into our home Just like with a Christmas tree we also decorate it, but like the ancient Pagans we decorate it with natural ornaments. We make our own ornaments, garland, and we even use solar lights adorn it. Once Yule is over we then return the decorations to the Earth, giving thanks for the use of it.
Over the next 21 days we are going to chronicle our journey through pictures and insructions of how you can bring a little bit of magic into your home as you celebrate the holidays. Regardless of which holiday you are celebrating during the winter months its the activity of doing things together that really create memories during these times that will last a lifetime. |
As a mom of three boys who go to public school I started to notice that some things were not being taught in detail so I decided to create lessons for them. Many of these lessons cover science, history and of information about Paganism. I share crafts for the all different holidays and cultures as ways that they can learn and have fun at the same time.
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