A few years ago I read about a folktale in passing that completely captivated me. It said that bears hibernating in their dens turn over on Midwinter. I spent years trying to track down this folktale, and finally determined it is a Norwegian story. I still haven’t found a text, but I have done a ton of research and written my own retelling. (More on that later) In Celtic tradition this time of year is called Imbolc and in that climate people are starting to see signs of spring. In many other parts of the world, mine included, Midwinter is the dead of winter with the worst still to come. I like to call this holiday Midwinter, not just because it is the secular names, but because it is so much about winter for us. (And becaise I feel like Midwinter encompasses all of the various traditions that center on this time of year.) A Norwegian saying aboutthis time of year is: “today half the winter passes but the greatest cold remains.” While the snow and the cold are just getting started for many of us, the sunlight is increasing. Sap is starting to flow upwards in the trees in February and associate sugar on snow and maple sugaring with Midwinter. I love the idea that bears are turning over in their dens on Midwinter. They aren’t walking up, because it’s definitely not spring, but they are getting restless. This tracks with actual bear behavior, female bears typically give birth in February and remain in hibernation until March-ish. With all of that in mind, I knew I wanted to make something that celebrated the bear turning at Midwinter.
As I was brainstorming ideas I came across the candle clock. Before electricity, lights and alarm clocks people had different ways of “setting alarms.” One of them was the candle clock– in its simplest form this was a candle with nails stuck into it at timed intervals. When the candle burned down to the nail it would fall and clatter on the metal candle holder below. This led to more elaborate contraptions that used a candle to signal after a set period of time. This made me think of bear turning in her den waiting for the light and spring– or more specifically us looking for more light and signs of spring. I decided to make a countdown candle. You could start counting down to Midwinter, or start the countdown on Midwinter. Bear keeps sleeping as the candle holder while the light gets closer and closer. Butterflies drop and clatter trying to wake her up.
Hibernating Bear Countdown Candle
I was originally going to use a store bought taper candle for this project and paint the details on, but then I realized that tapers are in fact tapered. Because this candle is supposed to burn down in even increments, you really need a candle that the same width the whole way up. (This will ensure it burns evenly) You also can’t use a pillar candle because only the center of those candles will burn down, so you won’t see the progress and the butterflies won’t drop. I landed on rolled beeswax candles which are a fun midwinter project for kids just on their own! They make the perfect size candle for this project and you can decorate them easily with modeling wax. Keep an eye on those butterflies when you are burning the candles, the wings shouldn’t come in contact with the flame.
Materials:
- air dry clay
- wood slice
- beeswax sheets
- wicks
- butterfly thumbtacks (you could make these pretty simply too)
- modeling wax (You could use acrylic paint and paint details instead)
Method:
First make the candles:
Warm the beeswax sheets a little bit with your hands and then cut a wick to fit the long side of the beeswax rectangle. It should hang over about an inch or so. (This will become the part you light) Line the wick up on the edge of the wax sheet and start to gently roll the long edge over the wick. Keep rolling the sheet up into a tube keeping it as tightly rolled as you can. When it’s all the way rolled up run your hand over the seam to make sure it’s well adhered.
Warm some modeling wax up in your hands and roll it into thin strips. Stick it onto the candle at even intervals.
Next make the bear candle holder:
Knead some air dry clay to make it pliable and smooth. Form a large piece of clay into a C-shape and stick it down to the wood slice.Sculpt a bear head and attach it to one side. You can keep adding more details or keep it simple. Use a toothpick to draw fur and closed eyes. When you are happy with the shape, press a candle down into the center of the bear’s back. (I used a different candle because I was afraid I would squish the rolled candle.) Remove the candle and allow to dry completely.
Assemble the candle:
Place the candle in to the dried holder. Stick some butterfly tacks into the candle on the lines. Burn your candle in increments and pay close attention to the butterfly wings- make sure they don’t make contact with the flame.