Teaching Children About the Sabbats
ZAIN GREENVAILE
Samhain Lesson Plan
The Basics
1. Carve pumpkins to light the evening.
2. Talk about Samhain.
3. Read a Samhain story, by "pumpkin light" of course!
4. Draw some conclusions for the child- Bring it all together.
The Details
While carving the pumpkins, talk to your child about the things that happen at Samhain. I've read that turnips are easier to carve and hold a small votive candle well, but I haven't tried it yet.
The Thinning of the Vail and remembering ancestors can be especially important for families who have lost loved ones this past year. It is often surprising how much losing a loved one can effect a little one. Mine still asks after her Great-grandfather, who left us in March. (Although not as frequently as she once did. It is sad to see her forgetting him.)
If your little one is "afraid of ghosts", now might be a time to work on that. Perhaps if he or she thinks of them as people who aren't wearing their bodies (sort of like when we dream), this idea isn't so scary. "Ghosts" is awful close to "monster" to some children. I'm hesitant to use the idea of angel, because of the Christian overtone. Just a suggestion.
Chose a good "Hallowe'en" story! The stories will provide lots of opportunity to point out common Pagan ideas. Plus, they are loads of fun for the kids. Look in the Links & Resources for a list of books we enjoy.
Ask, "Why do you think we do..." Even if the child is way off, respond with the positive. "That's a good idea. Another reason is...." works much better than "No, we do it because..." After all you did ask what the child thinks is the reason. If the children are young, offer explanations first. Let your child guide you. If he or she is bored senseless or disinterested, the ideas may be too hard or not hard enough. Don't lecture, have fun! Be silly with you kids.
Yule Lesson Plan
The Basics
1. Candles, Candles, Candles light the evening!
2. Talk about Yule, whatever your tradition considers important.
3. Make a Yule snack. Yule Logs and Sugar Suns are fun.
4. Draw some conclusions for child- Bring it all together. Eat!
The Details
Candles are a fun way to fill the room with light and they remind us of miniature Suns. Most children seem to have a fascination with the flicker of candle light, so be certain to keep an eye on yours if they've not had much exposure to burning candles and the attendant "rules". (IE Look but don't touch, etc...)
Take a few minutes right now to think about what Yule means to you.... If you can't articulate your beliefs to yourself, can you pass them along to your children? there are many wonderful books and web sites that give various interpretations of Yule. Seek them out!
There are some very easy (and fun) recipes I have provided that can be made by children of all ages. Our child is 3.5 and she frequently helps with the baking. This is an excellent time to work on math, too! (Counting, fractions, addition...)
Point out the difference between popular beliefs about this Sabbat and the Pagan beliefs. Ask, "Why do you think we do..." Even if the child is way off, respond with the positive. "That's a good idea. Another reason is...." works much better than "No, we do it because..." After all you did ask what the child thinks is the reason. If the children are young, offer explanations first. Let you child guide you. If he or she is bored senseless or disinterested, the ideas may be too hard or not hard enough. Don't lecture, have fun! Be silly with you kids.
Beltane
Welcome! What an exciting time for us. Spring has arrived and is full swing. Life is all around us. The trees long ago burst into buds, which have developed to full, yet still young, leaves. In a way, what we celebrate now is the potential of Summer. A promise made, yet unfulfilled. A beginning that will lead many directions, depending on our own actions. Much like our own glorious children. What better time to Celebrate Youth! Many parents have concerns about the appropriateness of traditional May Day celebrations for children, especially the younger ones. For them, I offer a solution.
Our daughters help in the garden quite a bit. We offer them a bit of garden space. In our area, May is a great month for starting beans and other "direct sow" seeds. Also, many direct sown seeds are forgiving of the lax attention children offer. A few days before Beltane, go to the seeds store and let the chilren pick out seed packets. Then, mark out a spot of there own, to care for until harvest is over. On Beltane, ask you children to take those seeds and say a little wish for them to grow. Children are so wonderfully sincere, I have no doubt that this will be effective! They can then take the seeds there garden and plant them. If they wish, they can say another blessing.
Of course, finish with a feast and special dessert. Food is essential and, as a family, we very much enjoy the social time spent cooking and eating. Frequently, we use the meal as a time to talk about the Holy Day.
This activity will carry you thru the many months of Summer. It gives us the opportunity to learn about caring for others, following thru on obligations and giving back to our Mother. If you don't have a garden, many companies are developing "patio varieties" designed for containers and patios. Many times an old milk jug with the top removed and a sunny window sill are all you need.
Enjoy your Beltane, and your children. And remember, as always, the wheel turns, and soon it will be Summer. Brightest Blessings.
Summer Solstice
This time of year, half way around the Wheel from Yule, is a time of Light. The Sun has grown strong, yet will soon begin to fall. The peak of summer is upon us! Enjoy.
We planned ahead for this year's Celebration. We've reserved a portion of the Yule Tree, which we will place in our bonfire (Okay, truth be known, we live in the city so our bonfire really occurs in safety of the the grill basin.) As each memeber of the family places a portion of the Yule tree in to the bonfire, they will make a request and a promise. A request to the Lord and Lady for help with a special project or difficult task, followed by a promise to the Lord and Lady to do a specific work of benefit to the world. Your child may pledge to continue caring for her portion of the garden ~ as long as he or she is sincere and follows thru. The boughs will be placed on the previously lighted fire, as this seems safer than lighting the extremely dry branches!
As always, we will finish up with a big meal. As one who loves to cook as much as she does eat, I can never pass up an opportunity to make a family feast! Pick out all the summer favorites. In our house, strawberries and potato salad, corn on the cob (if there is any sweet corn, even better!) and Deviled eggs are sure to make up at least part of the meal.
Fall Equinox
On the Fall Equinox, we celebrate the Harvest. Soon, as the wheel turns and turns, we will have Winter. For now, however, We will enjoy the fruits of our labor. We will honour the Lord and Lady, who are always with us. This is a fun Holy Day! Think of Thanksgiving Day, make it a party. There are so many activities you could do for this Day, I can't possibly list them all. Baking, Corn Dolls, Sunflower bird feeders, Wicker Men.... (See the Links and Resources section for some lists of books)
The Basics
1. Work on the chosen activity.
2. Harvest veggies (even if this means going to the market!)
3. Prepare your meal.
4. Read a Harvest story.
5. Present the activity as an offering to the Lord and Lady.
6. Eat, and enjoy this time your family.
The Details
Try to chose a project that is harvest oriented and suited to your child's level. Don't expect a toddler to create the most perfect loaf of bread you've ever seen. Expect it to be rather lumpy, hard and heavy as a brick. It will still be very beautiful! It's important for your child to feel involved.
A little aside here: Keep in mind that this is a Child's Time, not yours. Adults have their own ritual, these are lessons for the kids. Take cues from your child. Mine love to color and paint. So, we could paint pictures of the Sun and of the Garden. Someone just shouted "Paint! You must be nuts! It will be all over the house!" Go outside, in the garage, in the kitchen. Kids clean up, and so do floors. Set reasonable limits and expect the children to stay within them. It may take time, but it will work.
Let the children pick out parts of the meal. Have everyone choose a favorite. So what if you end up with macaroni and cheese, corn and chicken and noodles. One day of an "all yellow" plate won't hurt. (Besides, yellow the color of the Sun. Trust your children to come up with a good idea. As the adult, you can choose a salad as your favorite if the idea really bothers you.)
While dinner is cooking, take time to read a story about the Harvest. If your children are older, have them read to you. Or, create a harvest story together. Remember those stories that you had to fill in the blanks? Try that idea. If you want to work on another project, now is a good time. If your family also attends a larger group for Sabbats, make another offering to take to that group.
When dinner is ready and the table is set, the children can present their projects as an offering to the Lord and Lady. Let the offering set on the table thru the meal as a reminder of the Harvest. When the meal is over, the offering can be place outside (or what ever is traditional in your house). During dinner, talk about what has happened over the summer. Did the trees grow taller? Did you? How about those baby rabbits? Try to make some connections for your child.
