Discovering Waldorf - 'Celebrating Spring!'

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Discovering Waldorf is a weekly series of articles written by 'everyday' Waldorf families. The contributors to this series share their 'real-life' insights and inspirations on all kinds of Waldorf topics. This series is not meant to be Waldorf philosophy in its purest form, but rather a snapshot of how we can all incorporate Waldorf ideas into our lives to help nurture and encourage the magic that is in our children. If you have a topic you wish to learn more about (or want to share) on Discovering Waldorf, send me an email at vined(at)ymail(dot)com.

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Happy Spring!

Hi there...so here's a post on how to celebrate Spring in Twig and Toadstool style.
While I'm definitely not an expert on Waldorf, I do appreciate and utilize some Waldorf methods in our home. We have a nature table, use beautiful natural materials in our crafts, and enjoy storytelling, fingerplays and celebrate many festivals throughout the year.

I'm lucky to live in a part of the world, (Eastern Ontario Canada), where we have 4 distinct seasons. By this time of the year, after a loooooong winter, we are so looking forward to Spring. Soon Mother Nature will come and paint our world from white to green, (well...before the green comes, we do have the unofficial season of mud!)

Start sprouting your wheat grass baskets...they're a beautiful addition to an Easter celebration!

Soak your wheat berries for 24 hours, then sprinkle onto some soil, and cover loosely with some more soil...spritz with water daily and you'll have some lovely greenery for Spring!

Spring is a season of rebirth and renewal. This is a great time as a parent to take some time out to clean and purge your home, and a good time to start some self care. It's also a good time to detox your body and start exercising again...taking care of your own needs will make you a better caregiver to your children.
For children Spring is a season of wonder...new life begins. On our little homestead baby chicks are born, the seedlings are sprouting, and work in the garden begins in ernest!

To help us celebrate this magical season we do alot of crafting...I especially love brightening up our home in these first grey days of Spring.

These crafts could also work with your nature table...you can add these in with more "natural" spring items...eggs, birds nests, special stones, beeswax candles.

Here are some of my favourite Spring crafts

Little Flower Children

Paper Butterflies

Garden Goddesses

*we make a Garden Goddess every May 1st....she hangs from our Oak tree and watches over our garden all season long.

You can come over to our blog to check out our Spring crafts link. And if you're in the Southern hemisphere and need some Autumn inspiration, you can check out our Autumn craft link!

Here are some of the special days in Spring that your family can celebrate. Don't feel pressured to celebrate them all...pick and choose the ones that speak to your heart.

March 21-Spring Equinox

April 1-April Fools Day

April 3- New Moon

April 17-Palm Sunday

April 18-Full Moon

April 19-Passover begins

April 22-Earth Day

April 23-St George's Day

April 24-Easter

May 1-May Day

May 3-New Moon

May 17-Full Moon

June 1- New Moon

June 17-Full Moon

June 21-Summer Equinox

Here's a sweet little Spring poem...

What the Robin Told
The wind
told the grasses,
And the grasses
told the trees.
The trees
told the bushes,
And the bushes
told the bees.
The bees
told the robin,
And the robin
sang out clear:
Wake up!
Wake up!
Spring is here!

If you have any Spring inspiration, please give us your links...

I'd love to know how YOU celebrate Spring too.

Oh , how my heart has been longing for Spring!!!

enjoy

xo maureen

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Oh, Maureen, you are such a delight! How fun you make everything!! Thank you so much for sharing all of your super-cute Spring ideas with us... I don't think anyone will be able to resist popping over to Twig and Toadstool for some more of your constant inspiration.

Here are the other inspiring posts in the Discovering Waldorf series.

Blessings and magic to you!

Donni