Holiday time is a time to consider community traditions as well as family traditions. My family is staying with in-laws in rural Suffolk, England, so we’ve been going to all of the local celebrations. Thursday, we went to a performance of local Molly Dancers. This is a reclaimed local tradition that takes place between harvest…Read the full article.

The holiday tradition of spiced cider or mulled wine stretches from Halloween to Twelfth Night through all of the holidays in between. Wassail is most usually associated with Christmas now, but it wasn’t always so. Wassail is both the drink and the act of going house to house asking for the drink. “Waes Hail!” is…Read the full article.

A seasonal table or nature table serves as an indoor reminder of the changes of the seasons. Many families and Waldorf schools add to the table as they find natural treasures like rocks, shells, twigs, small squashes at harvest time, new leaves in spring, and anything else that strikes the fancy of adults or children…Read the full article.

Whether you are bringing indoors evergreen boughs, a whole tree, or just a smaller reminder of the turning of the seasons, decorating with nature helps your child to connect with nature and the cycle of life, death, and new life. This year, I adapted a velvet acorns project I found in a surprise issue of…Read the full article.

On the most commercial weekend of the year, you are bombarded with messages to buy stuff so you can give stuff. If you are trying to keep stuff to a minimal in your house, you can extend that attitude to your giving. My daughter is my model of good giving this year. If you are…Read the full article.

Do you celebrate spring with your children? My kids are so excited to have the occasional gust of warm air that they are wearing shorts and short sleeves and shivering whenever the temperature goes above 50 degrees Fahrenheit. My children are ready to celebrate spring. In a few days, on March 20th, it will be…Read the full article.

Late last night, I stopped by the grocery store for some throat coat tea. It’s been one of those winters. I was completely shocked and not the least bit surprised to find masses of cut flowers, a full length aisle of pink-themed (non-fair trade) candy, bunches of huge home decoration items (including those giant inflatable…Read the full article.

If your child is going to be writing Valentine’s Day cards anyway, why not take the opportunity to teach the habit of writing thank-you notes. Valentines can become simple notes of gratitude that make sender and receiver feel good. Tips for Thank You Notes with Children Don’t use pre-printed cards. Have your child cut out…Read the full article.

Holidays are a stimulating, even over-stimulating, time for a baby. Especially if this is your baby’s first holiday season, there is likely to be a lot more going on than usual. Between parties and family, shopping and looking at lights, and other situations full of crowds of strangers, your baby may need a break. Here…Read the full article.

I love the lights of the holiday season. There is something stirring about twinkling lights on cold nights. No matter which holiday people celebrate, the midwinter holidays are celebrations of light, and I enjoy seeing everyone’s candles, fairy lights, luminarias, and bonfires. Whichever holiday you celebrate, bynature.ca and I wish you a happy holiday. Image…Read the full article.