The songs from The Children’s Forest, from the Song of the Snowdrop to the Hazel Tree Song, are now available online, great for those of us with fledgling music-reading skills. Author Anna Richardson sings.
Imbolc
The Celtic festival of Imbolc, St Brigit’s day is on 1 February, halfway between the winter solstice and the spring equinox and has been sacred in Celtic lands since Neolithic times. While we are all mostly sheltering at home Imbolc offers us signs of the changing seasons and life.
Imbolc is the time when we become aware of that which is invisible. Animals in the forest are revealed by their footprints and snowdrops emerge from under the ground with a promise of spring to come.
You may be able to see snowdrops on your daily walk? Try making some snowdrop folk or see if you can spot some footprints left in the mud or snow.
Snowdrop Folk
Snowdrops are a flower of Brigit; they bloom at Imbolc time and their three white petals reflect Brigit’s threefold nature. It is said that at this time Brigit walks the land, gently awakening the plants. In her footsteps snowdrops appear and sometimes a flurry of snowflakes swirls in her wake.
YOU WILLL NEED:
- Small hazel stick about 15cm (6ins) long
- Green and white cloth or felt
- Green and white cloth or felt
- Green wool or thread
- Needle for skirt (optional)
- Scissors
- Loppers
- Vegetable peeler
TO MAKE:
Using the loppers, cut a hazel stick approximately 15cm (6ins) long and 1.5cm (1/2 in) wide. Alternatively, use a dolly peg. Peel off the bark for the face, using the vegetable peeler.
Cut a three-petal flower shape from the white cloth, for the hat. To complete the flower hat, cut a small circle of green cloth. Place the white petals on top of the stick with the green circle on top. Bind them both onto the top of the stick with green thread.
To make the skirt, cut a strip of green cloth approximately 10cm (4ins) long and 7cm (2 1/4ins) wide. Cut the bottom half into long leaf shapes inspired by the leaves of the snowdrop.
There are two ways to attach the skirt: either wrap the skirt around the stick and bind the top using green thread, or, using a needle and thread, sew a running stitch along the top of the skirt, pull and gather, then tie on to the hazel body.
(NB: it may be easier to cut out the shapes beforehand for younger childen)
The Children’s Forest: Stories & songs, wild food, crafts & celebrations all year round
Dawn Casey, Anna Richardson, Helen d’Ascoli
This book encourages children’s natural fascination with the forest and its inhabitants. The authors have produced an enchanting book where imagination, story and play bring alive the world of the forest. Read more…
