Awakening the Earth: Welcoming Spring in Forest School & Beyond

A child attentively waters seeds outdoors, fostering growth and nurturing nature with care.

One morning, not so long ago, a warm front of air pushed aside the cold breath of winter that had settled all around us back in December. The first sprouts poked their heads out, greeting us from our sit spots. As frog eggs filled the pond, we began preparing our garden beds and tracking the weather shifts each day. These seasonal shifts are all marked by the Spring Equinox. Honoring, and celebrating, the balancing of daylight and night sky is a pivotal moment each year for the EdenAcres community, and many cultures around the world. 

Cultural Ceremonies and Rituals

The Spring Equinox marks a shifting in the natural cycles and rhythms of our land and water. As spring makes its debut, the Salmon return to spawn, and the rivers become full of these keystone species. This is celebrated across Oregon by many tribes as Salmon- or phím, as they are known to the Takelma- are a core part of the native cultures who have stewarded the rivers holding these fish since time immemorial. While specific traditions vary across tribes the First Salmon Ceremony is a ritual of gratitude and community that takes place across the state each spring. 

Delicate snowdrop flowers emerge among the fallen leaves, heralding the arrival of spring.

Around the world the Hindu Festival of Holi marks the end of winter and the triumph of good over evil. On the eve of Holi people gather around fires, sing, dance, and say goodbye to the winter months. On the day of Holi, people celebrate by throwing gulal- brightly colored powders and water. Each color thrown has a symbolic meaning; red is love, blue is for the Hindu god Krishna, and green represents new beginning. 

The celebration of Ostara, with Germanic origins, takes place on the day of the Vernal, or spring, equinox. Folklore shares with us that Ostaras namesake, Eostre, is the deity of dawn, fertility and renewal. It is said that upon discovering a bird with frozen wings Eostre used her power to transform it into a rabbit, hoping to spare the wounded animal. In an act of gratitude the rabbit, which retained some of its former bird-like attributes, laid colorful eggs around the land. One Ostara ritual consists of opening all the windows and doors in your home, removing all stagnant, dying or stale food and plant materials, and cleansing the spaces frequented most, making way for the new life carried in on the breath of spring. The ritual is finished with a cleansing of your physical self in a salt bath embedded with fresh flowers and foliage. 

Activities for Your Home and Children 

Here are some activities to welcome spring in your home.

Hand Kites

These hand kites are an easy, low waste, spring craft that is fun for all ages! Start by weaving together your sticks and bending them into a circle. Secure the circle with twine. On one half of your circle tie your fabric or ribbons. The other half will be for your hands. Once all fabric is attached securely run as fast as you can and watch the mirage of colors blow in the wind and welcome the blooms of spring!

Materials:

• Two or three pliable sticks cut to be about a foot and a half long.- Soaked willow works great!

• Colorful fabric strips or ribbons cut (1-2  feet in length)

• Scissors

• Twine

Seed Experiments

Depending on what bio-region you live in you may or may not be ready to start putting seeds into the ground come the first day of spring. One easy way to bring the vital ritual of spring planting into your home is through sprouting plants on your windowsill! Make it interesting by placing a seedling on each of your windowsills and creating a hypothesis about which seeds will do best! As you watch each new leaf unfurl, share your ideas about how different windows impact each plant's growth. 

Children enjoy a hands-on gardening experience as they carefully plant peas along a fenced garden bed on a cloudy day.

Materials:

• Seeds- Peas are a great early spring plant that grow fast and strong!

• Potting soil

• Plant pots- if you want to make things even more interesting plant into a clear container, placing seeds on the edge so you can watch the roots grow with each new day of spring. 

  
  
  
  

Egg Shell Candles

Cultures all around the world are familiar with the symbolism connecting eggs and spring. Representing new life and fresh beginnings, these egg candles are the perfect addition to a spring time altar or table setting. 

To start, take your cleaned egg shells (cracked from the top) and gently secure them in an egg cup, clay or playdough, this will prevent it from rolling away. Melt your wax in a double boiler, adding essential oil if you like. Position your wick in the center of your egg shell and gently pour your melted wax inside. Position a match or stick across the top of your eggshell to keep the wick in place while it dries. 

Materials:

• Emptied and gently rinsed egg shells.

• Beeswax pellets

• Candle wicks

• Essential oils (optional)

• Egg cups, clay, or playdough

• Double boiler

• Small stick or match