winter solstice traditions – Page 3

21Nov 2023 by catbird 3 Comments

Simple Snowy Tree Lanterns

Craft Project, Nature Art, Play, Winter, Winter Solstice

This is a winter variation on my favorite simplest lanterns. It makes use of pressed ferns which look remarkably like little evergreen trees. While some ferns die back in the winter, there are a number that are evergreen, so take a look around for some ferns growing even if it's the dead of winter. These lanterns use the simple jar method and are quick and easy for kids to put together. If you are looking for a more elaborate lantern, I have tons of lantern ideas here. Light up the longest night with beautiful lantern! Snowy Winter Tree Lanterns We used a punch to make the snowflakes, but you could also cut them from folded paper. My son made yet another lantern from the paper the snowflakes were cut from…

12Nov 2023 by catbird 17 Comments

2023 Winter Solstice Countdown Calendar

Craft Project, Free Printable, Play, Recipes, Winter, Winter Solstice

Countdown to the Winter Solstice with activities, recipes and crafts. Come back each day for a new surprise! The doors won't open until the correct day (So 1 opens on December 1st, on December 5th you'll be able to open 1-5, etc.) The calendar includes two exclusive excerpts from my Winter Solstice book that will only be available through this calendar and only in December 2023. This calendar is now closed. Look for a new calendar in November 2024!! Click on the image below to go to the calendar!! (This will take you to a new window) Click once to open the door and click a second time to open the tutorial. Happy Winter Solstice! Click Here for the materials list-- there are some spoilers here, but I tried my…

03Nov 2023 by catbird 3 Comments

Scented Window Star Diffusers

Craft Project, Play, Winter, Winter Solstice

Waldorf style window stars make a beautiful decoration this time of year, but I wanted something more. I decided to use them essentially a diffuser for holiday scents. They looks stunning and fill your home with gentle scent. To make these stars you will fold them the same way you would standard window stars, but you can’t use the traditional kite paper because it will repel the oil. (Kite paper is coated in wax.) Instead use regular tissue paper, which you can cut into squares yourself or you can find tissue paper for floats which conveniently comes in pre-cut 5.5 x 5x5” squares. (This is what I used) This is a great kid project and a fun way to involve littles in holiday preparations. Adding some paper snowflakes to the…

01Nov 2023 by catbird 2 Comments

Stargaze on the Longest Night

Play, Winter, Winter Solstice, Wolf Moon

Winter Solstice is the longest night, so why not take advantage of all that darkness and do some stargazing? You will find a "Stargazing Picnic tutorial" in my Winter Solstice book, or you can just grab some blankets and look at the sky. The stars are easier to see in the winter because there is less humidity and haze and several iconic constellations make their debut in the winter months. If you are in the Northern hemisphere look for: Auriga (the charioteer) Canis Major (greater dog) Canis Minor (lesser dog) Orion (the hunter) Taurus (the bull) Ursa Major (greater bear/ big dipper) Ursa Minor (lesser bear/ little dipper) Draco (the dragon) Cassiopeia (the queen) Perseus (the hero) Different cultures have different names for constellations which can be really fun to research!

01Nov 2023 by catbird 1 Comment

Hot Chocolate Hike

Hibernation Celebration, Hike Ideas, Recipes, Winter, Winter Solstice

There is nothing more exciting them packig up a thermos of hot chocolate and going on a winter hike. I like to choose routes that I know will have a place to sit down partway through, because while we usually have no problems sitting on the ground, in winter that can be too cold. We always bring these handy collapsible cups to make serving easier. (And they are infinately entertaining on their own.

30Oct 2023 by catbird No Comments

Cinnamon Birds

Craft Project, Winter, Winter Solstice

These are a classic holiday craft-- I remember making them as a kid and I now make them with my kids. I love the birds strung on a garland and paired with dried orange slices, they look and smell amazing. They are also super easy to make with kids and are basically play dough until you dry them. Use cheap bulk cinnamon for these not the nice stiff you use in baking. This is a rare case of quantity over quality. When I made these as a kid I always added glue, and I do think it makes them a little sturdier, but they work fine without it and leaving it out makes them compostable which is nice. You can paint or decorate these but I never do because I…

01Sep 2023 by catbird No Comments

Hunt for Animal Tracks

Hike Ideas, Midwinter, Play, Winter, Winter Solstice

Whether you have snow or mud, winter is a great time to hunt for animal tracks. The lack of underbrush makes them much easier to spot. Younger friends will likley just be excited to find and identify some tracks, but older friends might enjoy tracking the paths the prints take and trying to reconstruct what the animal might have been doing and or where it is living. We spent literally hours following those raccoon tracks around the forest and mapped out what we hypothesized was a whole community of raccoons. They went to the water, they went to different trees that appeared to have dwellings in them, it was pretty fascinating. Another fun step would be to draw and illustration or write a story about what you found, in our…

12Dec 2022 by catbird No Comments

Festive Mushroom Ornaments

Craft Project, Nature Art, Play, Winter, Winter Solstice

I don't think its any secret that I love mushrooms, foraging and eating them, making art with them and generally just finding and observing them. They seem to me having a moment right now too. At the same time I am slowly becoming one of those crazy old ladies who has a tree in every room of her house with a different theme. I’m at three now. (Is there a threshold for when it becomes crazy? Like cats?) The family tree is in the living room and has all of our special ornaments, there is a sunny solstice tree and last is this tree. I live in an old Victorian house with a tower… so it clearly needed a tree. And obviously that tree needed to be a mushroom tree.…

07Dec 2022 by catbird 1 Comment

Pine Needle Tea

Campfire, Folklore, Foraging, Recipes, Winter, Winter Solstice

Pine needle tea is a fun and easy winter beverage hat is is oh so wintery! Its a fantastic source of nutrients, particularly vitamin C, which was used to supplement people's diets in the days before you could go to the store and buy a bag of oranges without a thought. Allegedly, Frenchman Jacques Cartier and his crew were cured of scurvy by an Iroquois (Haudenosaunee) tribe in 1543 and they wrote an account of it. All edible species of pine contain vitamin C-- purportedly have three to five times more than an orange, depending on what source you read. Vitamin C is an immune booster (and a cure for scurvy!) Pine needles also contain vitamin A which improves red blood cell production. Pine needle tea can also soothe sore…

04Nov 2022 by catbird 1 Comment

Make Twig Stars

Craft Project, Nature Art, Play, Winter Solstice

Make some easy stick stars one of two ways. Big ones can be used to decorate the house and small ones can be ornaments or gift toppers. You cab leave them plain or dress them up with other natural materials. Twig stars are an easy nature craft for all ages that look rustic and elegant. Twig Stars Materials: twigs twine pretty greens and other natural materials (optional) Method: Cut or break your things into 5 pieces of approximately the same length. Lay them out in a 5 pointed star shape and tie the joints with twine. Add a loop of twine to the top if using as an ornament. Add greens or dried flowers for decoration as desired. Willow Stars These will really only work with willow branches, you bend…

Tag: winter solstice traditions