Winter Solstice - A Time of Hope

In preparation for the Winter Solstice today, the children made Winter Solstice lights.  Each child used a mason jar to fill with pine boughs, water, cranberries and a floating candle. Unfortunately, I do not have a picture of the finished product, but you can see a version of one here.

The rhythm of  the seasons are marked in special ways for children.  Children find comfort in traditions and rituals that mark the passage of time.  The reassurance that their birthday will come once a year and the knowledge that Christmas will be celebrated in a certain way gives children comfort in a word that they cannot always make sense of.  

Celebrating the Winter Solstice has been a tradition around the world for thousands of years.  Long ago, people were not sure that the sun and its bounty would return.  Around the globe people held ceremonies and celebrations in hopes that the sun would soon return.  

This has been a dark week in our nation's history.  While I firmly believe, and it has been our policy at school to shield our young students against the horrific violence in Newtown, it is also important that we as a community keep the families far and near that were so tragically affected by last week's events close to our hearts.  A nation's mindfulness and positive thoughts can only help those most close to these events begin to recover.

As all of us as parents know, there is no way to recover from the extreme and senseless loss experienced last week in Connecticut.  However, we must believe that just like the Winter Solstice, this is a time of hope.  As the nation, our towns, and our school community hold the families of Newtown in our embrace, let's hope that they can begin to heal.

With All of Our Love.