by Daisy Peasblossom

Created on: March 03, 2010

Imbolc or Candlemas as it is sometimes known, is also celebrated as Groundhog Day.  It is the season of the first signs of spring.  The first lambs may be born at this time, and in agrarian societies, it was important to keep close watch over the lambs and ewes as the weather could be bitter and unpredictable.  Other signs of impending spring could be little rivulets of melting snow, brave bits of vegetation poking through the winter leaves, a few more days of sun than gray clouds of winter.  Out on the back fences, domestic cats will begin singing their yowling love songs.

Imbolc rituals for children need not involve elaborate ceremonies.  In fact, since children are prone to discuss their home activities with anyone willing to listen, it may be a good idea to play down the more religious aspects of this holiday.   This is a fantastic time to bring out brightly colored seed catalogs, and discuss how soon the earth will be waking up and ready to put on a new, green dress.  Involve the children in picking out favorite vegetables or brightly colored flowers the family may hope to plant soon.  Start a window box of paperwhites (which are easy to grow) or even a few pots of bean plants or a water tray with carrot tops.

Read stories with your child about Ground Hog Day.  Share the fun of watching the news to see if Punxsutawney Phil will see his shadow on February 2nd.  Discuss ideas for how the tradition might have gotten started.  Take some time to explore the natural history of other animals who hibernate through the winter; or those who store food to last through the cold.  Discuss when you will be able to see summer birds returning to your area.

Bake some cookies with your child's help.  Discuss how the grain that grew last summer is now flour that is going into the cookies.  If you live near a farming area, take a road trip to look at the fields that have been put to bed for the winter.   Go to a park and look for signs of new growth.

Look through books of mythology for returning spring stories.  Share some of the stories while eating some of the cookies you made together.  Talk about why people need stories about the seasons, about how long ago we didn't have weather satellites or news people to tell us what the weather might be doing on the other side of the earth or even a few miles away.

When you tuck your little one in, after having shared this special day, remind him or her that last fall when the trees dropped their leaves in a colorful blanket, and then the snow laid a shiny soft comforter over the world, Mother Nature went to sleep for a little while.  But soon she will be waking up again with green grass, bird song, and new life-just as she has done for millions of years.

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