Wonder Book--Candlemas

Still inspired by Candlemas, I told the children a bedtime story about an old woman who lives alone, her only friends her chickens, her cow, and her bees. She collects honey and wax from the bees, and then she dips candles to last her through the dark winter. Though the sun is returning come Candlemas, she still needs her candles to lead her to bed and to help her in the early mornings.

Before we turned off the light, Emma and Rowan set their Wonder Book out for the Rhyme-elves (we have been reading the Seven-Year-Old Wonder Book). Last night the Rhyme-elves came and made a new poem about the old woman and her candles. The first picture is the woman dipping candles. The others are of a beehive and (you can't see this) of a candle lit in front of a starry window. I wonder how the Rhyme-elves come up with these poems?

A late Candlemas

We meet almost every Wednesday afternoon with friends for a Homeschool Waldorf Playgroup. It's nice to be able to talk to other moms who have similar parenting/schooling philosophies to myself. But best of all, the kids get to play with their friends and immerse themselves in imaginative play.

Today, playgroup was in my home. Since Candlemas was only yesterday (a sunny day, but where we live a long winter is always expected), we had decided to have a mini-celebration today on our regular playgroup day. I supplied the Stockmar decorating beeswax and everyone came with their own candles. Our guests had all brought beautiful and sweet-smelling beeswax candles. My old beeswax pillar was, unfortunately, burnt very low and previously decorated. I gave my own children regular emergency candles to decorate and they worked just as well. And the next time there is a power failure, we'll be able to remember how much fun we had today! Here is Rowan decorating his candle.

And here is the candle being decorated by some of our friends.

Next year, I think we might try making our own candles, either by dipping or pouring the candles in a mould. This year I was worried that most of the children were still too young, and we mothers with babies had our hands full! Give it another year and it will be a more manageable craft.