What is a celebration – and why should we care?
Life is increasingly lived online. It seems counter-intuitive, then, that a growing number of people are slowing down and unplugging – but they are. More and more families are going low-tech and bringing a focused commitment to connecting with nature. I should know: I’m one of them. Everything we do is designed to bring mindfulness into our home and kick the faster-faster merry-go-round of modern life out of the door.
A year shaped by festivals
One of the ways we do this is by shaping our year around a seasonal festival calendar. It’s cross-faith and nature-focused, and we celebrate in a multi-layered way.
On the surface, it’s just lovely to get together with friends and family for a chat and a laugh. Beneath that is the chance to bring art, beauty and wonder into our homes, and to connect with the growing season and enjoy what’s in season right now. On a deeper level, it feels like connecting with a great in-breath and out-breath, where we can focus outwards and inwards and be supported by the natural world as we do.
I think we can all share a universal truth: connection brings meaning to our human experience. One of the best ways to connect is through shared experience. When we celebrate a festival as a community, we’re all joining in – festivals are shared, active experiences.
St John’s Tide
Schools and communities around the world celebrate the festival of St John at midsummer. We often make flower crowns for the little ones, and everyone brings food to share until the table is full of summer treats. There’s laughter, singing and fun in the sunshine. It goes beyond the everyday and connects us with what’s happening in nature, which is full, busy and filled with sunshine. We’re simply taking a moment to slow down and join in.
At home
I’m often asked how this shows up at home. Each festival has lots of crafts you and the children can make: sun bunting, paper twirly-whirlies or a painting of the sun – anything that brings the outdoors in. You might move a counter on a wheel of the year or light a special candle. We put up a postcard of the sun and the garden in full bloom, and a golden cloth on our nature table brings the colour of the season inside.
Food is a big part of seasonal celebration. On a festival day we often share a big meal at home, bake a special bread and enjoy a seasonal treat – in midsummer, that’s a big bowl of strawberries and blueberries.
Find festival printables in our Seasons & Festivals collection and our Free Resources.
