SECTION II - FAMILY ISSUES
Promoting Pagan Family Values - Selene SilverWind
9th Annual May Day Fairie Festival - Druantia Moonwillow
Promoting Pagan Family Values
By Selene Silverwind
Slvrwind@aol.com
The chill of winter has descended and we are enclosing ourselves in our warm houses until the sun peeks out and warms our hearts and gardens once more. But drawing in doesn't mean shutting down, there are still things we can do to promote Pagan family values in our families, schools, and neighborhoods.
Following Yule, your children will quickly go through their holiday gifts and then be on the hunt for something to do. Now is the time to drag out your box of fabric scraps, beads, and baubles. Give your children the task of hunting down the makings of Brigit's bridal gown and bed for
Imbolc. Any little bits of lace, silk, or whatever your children deem appropriate, will do. When the time comes, help them dress the bride and her bed for your Imbolc ritual.
Children in school need entertainment too, especially when another snowfall or cold rain is keeping them indoors at recess. Organize a story go round. Start off the story with something seasonal such as, "One day Sammy the Snowflake was playing in a cloud with his snowflake friends when the cloud shook and Sammy fell out of his fluffy home." The next child continues the story. Once each child has contributed, give the story an end and ask them to illustrate their sentences into a class book. When they're done, read the story again while they snack on caramel popcorn and juice.
Clothes are a popular holiday gift, but there are many who get nothing for the holidays. Instead of packing your old clothes into a box and shoving it into the garage until some day in the future when you will call Goodwill to come get it, organize a neighborhood clothing drive. Invite your neighbors over for hot apple cider and homemade cookies and ask them to bring any old clothes with them. Call your local Red Cross or homeless shelter to come pick the goods up after the party. An alternative is to have your coven sponsor a clothing drive at a local store and donate the bounty to your local charity as a gift from the Pagan community.
The cold seems to last forever, but it doesn't. Enjoy it while you can.
