Another magical Early Childhood Winter Festival was held last Thursday evening to celebrate the Midwinter Solstice. At this turning point of the year, our community of little children and their parents/grandparents and younger siblings gathered together to share their warmth and light.  It was lovely to see everyone including Peppermint Cottage Playgroup,  Silver Birch and Karri Kindergarten families.

As the days grew ever shorter, our preparations were beginning, from making lanterns, asking parents for soup and firewood, singing winter songs,  making firelighters from old wax and pine cones and gathering kindling for the fires. Excitement bubbled up as the karri kindergarten fire was built by Kristy McMullan with help from the children on Thursday afternoon. After school whilst the children rested, the Kindergarten and nearby bushland were a hive of activity as lanterns were hung, lanterns laid out and lit for the lantern walk, and the fire lit. Families began arriving with soup and lanterns, an acknowledgment of Country spoken, Nidja Noongar song sung, and after a blessing, soup eaten around the fire. Lanterns lit, hand in hand with parents, our little ones made their way along the magical trail which led us to the bush kindy fireplace as we sang our lantern songs, and marvelled at the sparkling fairy grottos along the way. The haunting sound of the didgerdoo welcomed us into the forest as we gathered around the fireplace. As we sang “Rise Up O Flame” the fire sprang to life, warming us and making little faces glow. Bruce then led us singing traditional winter songs along with bush kindy favourites, and a beautiful Noongar translation of “Twinkle Twinkle” . A little one drifted off in her mother’s arms as a lilting lullaby was sung, and the digeridoo led us back along the lantern walk to the kindergarten and home.

It is hoped that wonderful memories of this special night will, as the song says, “Warm our hearts til Spring time comes”

Many thanks to; parents who brought along pots of soup and firewood. Thank you so much to all who  respected  our wish to keep this festival for children under seven and adults only, so that we can hold the reverence and magic at this special time of year. This meant for some, having older siblings cared for by friends, or that one parent only was able to attend. We appreciate your thoughtfulness and understanding!

Sophia spent many hours constructing extra lanterns to light up the area around the fire (in addition to many she has made in previous years), and these were made from her two daughter’s watercolour paintings (created over their years at Golden Hill). Thank you so much to Sophia for all her hard work  in planning and constructing the lantern walk, and to Lisa and Clare who helped set up and pack away the lanterns for the walk.

Thank you to Kristy for building the beautiful fire we gathered around for soup!

Thank you to Bruce for leading us in song with  his magical musical artistry and lovely warming forest fire.

Thank you to David Stockdale for the grounding sounds of the didgeridoo that led us into the forest and farewelled us when it was time to leave!

Thank you to all our little ones who remind us how to experience wonder and magic!