3 December 2012

unschool monday :: celebrating the seasons :: advent

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We look forward to this time of year so much. We've moved through the quiet hibernation of Winter, through the beautiful reawakening of Spring and towards the playful, fun freedom of Summer on our beautiful island.

The first day of Summer is marked by the beginning of our advent calendar. A countdown towards time spent together celebrating the year that was and the year to come. Each day we have a different activity where we spend time as a family doing something silly, or fun, or beautiful. There's a blend of inward and outwardly focussed activities too. I suppose, for the month that we do the advent thing, we follow our own curriculum of sorts, as the activities guide our days, in a spontaneous sort of way. Really, it's strewing at it's best. The owlets are so excited by the surprise of the activity that they love joining in and going along with the spontaneity of it all...

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This year we're putting a little more thought in and stepping it up a little. This year there's a little gift waiting for the owlets each day, along with an activity, and a theme for each week... This is where our Waldorfy leanings come into play too, as we draw our themes from a little Steiner verse:  

The first light of Advent is the light of stones. 
Stones that live in crystals, seashells, and bones. 
The second light of Advent is the light of plants. 
Roots, stem, leaf, flower and fruit by whom we live and grow. 
The third light of Advent is the light of beasts. 
Animals of farm, field, forest, air and sea. 
All await the birth in greatest and in least. 
The fourth light of Advent is the light of humankind. 
The light of love, the light of thought, to give and to understand.

While we're not at all religious, we rather like the idea of being thoughtful and thankful for the four elements as we wander towards the end of the year. And at a time where there is so much social activity, and busy business happening, it seems vital to ground ourselves in some way and remember to look around. We're saving a day each weekend for some time in nature. And we're stepping into the summer with colour, fun and enthusiasm for a fantastic and beautiful year to come. 

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Do you do anything special at this time of year? 
Does it affect your days at all and set a little path for you to follow for a bit? 

Day One :: paint everyone's toenails. Gift :: Babushka dolls

4 comments:

  1. I love celebrating Advent Steiner-style. There's a mindfulness and a 'stop-to-thinkness' that helps slow things down. I realised how much the nearly eleven year old still treasures things too - there was the a meltdown over who was going to be next to open a treasure on the advent stick. Better than a meltdown over a chocolate advent calendar, I figure.

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  2. You inspired me this year Lauren!
    http://norfolkexposure.blogspot.com/2012/12/homemade-advent-calendar.html
    Happy Advent x

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  3. What is 'religion'? I think if we have a belief system it doesn't have to be limited by the word 'religion'. It's about what moves you, makes you happy and makes you kind.
    This is a happy, generous and colourful celebration :)

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  4. I would love to have a daily example run down of what you do for your advent - then I can personalize it for my family.

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