The week of Candlemas...

Drake, the dwarf, buried a bulb

Deep in the woods where he did dwell,

 and soon when Spring was coming close,

 A little flower was seen to swell....

translated by Lori Widmer, author unknown..

from Freya Jafke's book Feste im Kindergarten und Elternhaus

The Candlemas bells are ringing....

 

Recalling last years Candlemas with the children and how this year will be different as the needs of the group are sought to be joyfully met...

 

 

This year I'll be doing the "outward "observance of Candlemas with my Sunday School family group....sheltering paperwhite bulbs in small mason jars with river stones, the blessing of household and classroom candles by one of our priests, and this beautiful song...

In the bulb there is a flower; in the seed, an apple tree;
In cocoons, a hidden promise: butterflies will soon be free!
In the cold and snow of winter there’s a spring that waits to be,
Unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.....

(Hymn of Promise, Natalie Sleeth....my most favorite hymn)

 

I will inwardly observe Candlemas with the playgarden children this Friday as we experience the golden light in our home, remove all Christmas greenery, and create earth candles from the beeswax candle stubs and pieces I save in a special container all year long. It really is a culmination of many things....

Our Candlemas 2011

Our Candlemas 2012