Noteworthy Nothings: Letter to Santa

Noteworthy Nothings: Letter to Santa: My 4-year-old son James and I sent a magical letter to Santa Claus today. This was the first year he was really old enough to be interested ...

C is for Cernunnos

Cernunnos is a Celtic horned god, and that's about all I knew about him before today. I figured it was time to learn more. 

Cernunnos (pronounced KER noo nohs) is associated with animals, nature and the forest. He is also often associated with fertility, vegetation, and death/rebirth. He was worshipped by the iron age Celts all across Europe around the first century AD, and his worship must have begun centuries before that. We have nothing in writing about him , so everything we know about him can only be guessed at from images. He is usually portrayed seated and cross-legged, in the meditative or shamanic position. He is also known as The Lord of the Hunt, The Lord of the Animals, The Stag Lord and The Lord of the Forest.

Today, many Pagan religions revere a horned god; this divinity syncretises a number of horned or antlered gods from various cultures, including Cernunnos.

Sources: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_do_you_pronounce_Cernunnos, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cernunnos, http://paganwiccan.about.com/od/godsandgoddesses/p/Cernunnos.htm, http://www.lugodoc.demon.co.uk/CERNUNOS.HTM

C is for Candlemas

   Candlemas, or Imbolc, as I prefer to call it, is the first of the Sabbats to celebrate Spring each year. The freezing weather is just starting to subside, and little buds are starting to show up. Although Winter is not yet over, it is becoming evident that Spring is definitely on its way. As winter is a time of inward reflection, and Spring is a time of new beginnings, I see Imbolc as the turning point between the two. It is a time to sum up all that we've been reflecting on and turn it into goals. I think it's a great time to start budgeting or saving up for something; Spring cleaning/organizing; planning, and possibly planting your garden; or any other project you've been thinking you ought to do. 

   This will be my first year to celebrate Imbolc with the kids (ages 4 & 1), so I've been searching for ways to include them. I've found coloring pages (like this one), activities (like these), and other great ideas. I think I'll try to do a couple of these, but not all of them. We will definitely be doing some coloring, and roasting marshmallows in the fireplace, and I'll try to explain the significance of the day in terms my 4-year-old can understand.