21Jan 2023 by catbird
Frost Lanterns

Frost Lanterns

Craft Project, Frost Moon, Full Moon, Midwinter, Nature Art
Midwinter is a snowy sleepy time. The days are 42 minutes longer and brighter than then were on the Winter Solstice, but they don't really feel like it yet. In one of my favorite winter nature books, Grandmother Winter, Grandmother shakes her down comforter out and the feathers become snow. This image is actually drawn from the Grimm's fairytale Frau Holle, which itself is drawn from a much earlier myth. In early Germanic and Nordic folklore, Frau Holle controlled the weather and kept children safe in the winter. In modern lexicon she is a kindly old woman who makes it snow by shaking out her quilts. I like the idea of a sweet old woman who makes snow and looks after children. It follows to me that giving children lanterns…
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05Sep 2022 by catbird
Harvest Moon Celebration

Harvest Moon Celebration

Autumn Portfolio, Craft Project, Full Moon, Harvest Moon, Recipes
We are so excited for the Harvest Moon! The Harvest Moon was so named in Europe because the light of the full moon allowed farmers to work into the night to bring in the harvest. After the harvest was finished it was a time of celebration and rest. This full moon is always the one closer to the Autumnal Equinox so it’s most often in September, but sneaks into October every now and again. In many Asian cultures this full moon is known as the Mid-Autumn Festival. It’s is traditionally celebrated with mooncakes (which we have made one of our traditions too!) Have you ever looked up at the man in the moon? What westerners refer to as the man in the moon, many other cultures refer to the rabbit…
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16Feb 2022 by catbird
Snow Moon Simmer Pot

Snow Moon Simmer Pot

Full Moon, Snow Moon, Winter Portfolio
Tonight is the full snow moon and February is the snowiest month where I live. I keep making simmer pots for most of the winter because I live in an old house with radiator heat and it gets so dry. I shift away from citrus and holiday scents after December and focus more on cleaning the air. Lately I’ve started being intentional about the water I use- snow, ice rainwater. The spices are cinnamon cloves and thyme— all of which fight germs and bacteria when aerosolized (I read a fascinating study about this) and bay leaves with intentions written on them. I also included some sage for cleansing. Feels just right for a snowy full moon night.
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19Dec 2021 by catbird
Hibernation Week Pie

Hibernation Week Pie

Cold Moon, Full Moon, Hibernation Celebration, Recipes, Winter Portfolio
Cold Moon hibernation pie!! The December Full moon is most often described as the Cold Moon. In my mind the Cold Moon is always linked to hibernation— my school has a week-long hibernation celebration every year in December that culminates in a Cold Moon Hibernation Party. Everyone learns about different aspects of hibernation, coziness and staying warm from straightforward activities like building shelters and learning about how animals survive to more abstract ideas of home and hearth. The fourth grade makes candles as a part of their colonial america studies and fifth grade makes hibernation snacks to eat while observing the stars. It’s a delightful way to celebrate the winter holidays and to prepare for a long winters nap.
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