Earth Pathways Showcase

Our family celebrates Winter Solstice with a visit to an aligned local stone circle to watch the setting sun meet the stones. Christmas follows soon after. I desperately wanted to find our own family tradition to mark the season; to connect this time of gifts and togetherness with the darkness and the natural world, especially for the children in my family. I found inspiration in the children’s picture book “The Night Tree” by Eve Bunting. Every December 24th eve, after having spent the afternoon making popcorn strings, hanging apples and bird-food balls, we bundle ourselves up to go to the dark woods for a torch-lit walk. Our ages range from two-and-a-half to seventy. We find our special tree and decorate it with edible presents for our animal friends. In the crisp night, we gaze at the stars, drink hot apple juice and sing, making memories for a lifetime.

Midwinter Magic in the Woods © Louise Harrington

“Who are you and where do you belong?”
“What positive habits are you bringing with you from childhood?”
“How will you help your friends and family now you are older?”

My son had just turned 7 years old. I watched my boy make the transition to bigger ideas, new understandings, capabilities and confidence. A chance conversation with other mothers showed that they too noticed this change and also longed to mark this special life milestone in our children’s lives. We came to the conclusion that we would love an outdoor, nature-oriented, collective, child-centred ceremony. A new event.

Our Children’s Milestones were celebrated in mid Spring outdoors in a beautiful garden. Families and friends provided song, bubbles, harp music, home-made bunting, food and a camp fire. The ceremony centred around each child walking with a chosen adult through 3 willow arches which we had built earlier that day. As they passed through each arch, each child proudly answered the questions above, reflecting on their identity, achievements and hopes for the future. Our children were then presented with gifts they had prepared (a power pouch and letter to their 14 year old selves). Welcome to the bigger world. Oh the places you’ll go! (Dr Seuss)

Celebrating our Children’s Milestones © Louise Harrington