"Most likely," comes the answer.
Yes, you'd be right in thinking this is a bit of a festive tradition for our friends. Right now, as we look towards the first Sunday in Advent and the weeks that build up to Christmas and the thirteen Holy Nights, I wanted to write a little bit about festivals in general and why observing them is helpful for children.
What springs immediately to mind is the fact that rhythm sustains us. So, in living with recurring festivals we lay a good ground for the child's sense of security and joy in life and the world. Festivals can be deeply nourishing for the children's souls... and for ours, for that matter. But traditions and events and celebrations don't have to be big or elaborate. Sometimes just a few small efforts are enough to set the mood and open the heart.
But be aware that how you begin is how and what the small children will expect next time too, and probably into the future.
On Sunday I'll hang up this painting. It was done by our younger daughter while she was in primary school. Wet on wet water colour is fine, but when our basement flooded it suffered water damage, as you can see. Nevertheless, her depiction of Mary wandering over stars and gathering threads of starlight for her little child, is one we love to live with during Advent and the Christmas season.
