Text Box: Yule is the Winter Solstice celebration for the Germanic pagans. In Germanic Neopaganism it is one of the eight solar holidays, Sabbats. "Yule" and "Yuletide" are also archaic terms for Christmas, Yule is celebrated on December 21 when the sun is weakest and daylight shortest. but the pagan’s have a ton of festivities and of course a feast. Here’s a fun Yule activity everyone will enjoy. Cup o’ Sunshine Materials: Terra-Cotta Pot, Paints and Paintbrushes, Styrofoam Block, String, Scissors, 1 yd 2" wide Green Ribbon, Yellow, Red, and Orange Lollipops and Sugar Sticks, Jelly Beans. Clean terra-cotta pot if necessary. Allow to dry. Paint outside and down to first lip of inside with a bright solid color. After this base coat dries, decorate with other colors. When completely dry, place a block of Styrofoam in the bottom of the pot. Cut green leaves out of the ribbon Text Box: and tie to lollipops with string. Push the lollipop sticks into the Styrofoam block to anchor them. Add the sugar sticks and fill rest of pot with loose jellybeans. (Explain to children that during the dark part of the year, sometimes we need to make our own sunshine. Let them know that bright colored gardens and flowers will be back in the spring, and this little pot of sunshine will cheer up a sick friend or relative.) The Solstice is also acknowledged by the Chinese; they hold the winter solstice festival. Families eat balls of plain and brightly colored rice balls called Tang Yuan. The balls come plain and sometimes stuffed, and are served in a soup or broth. Here’s a craft the children do on the winter solstice in China to decorate their homes. Have fun! Paper Lanterns Materials: Construction paper, Scissors, Tape, Stapler, Ruler, Pencil, Glue, glitter, sequins, if desired to decorate your lanText Box: tern. Use your ruler to measure and cut 1" off the short end of your paper. Set aside to use as the handle. Fold your paper in half lengthwise. Draw a line 1" from the end of the long edge of the paper opposite the folded edge. This will be the line where you stop cutting. Measure and mark lines 1" apart starting at the folded edge and moving towards the "stop cutting" line.(see photo) Cut on the marked lines up to the "stop cutting" line. Unfold the paper. Re-crease the paper in the opposite direction. This will hide any pencil marks. Match the long edges together on the lantern and use tape to hold it in place. Staple the handle to the top of the lantern. (see photo) Make as many lanterns as you wish and display them around your home. If you wish, add glue, glitter, sequins or other things to decorate your lanterns.  Text Box: Celebration of the Winter Solstice Text Box: Kwanzaa Activities and Food! Text Box: beans, or whatever; replace the tops. Finally secure sticks by pushing them through the tops, and you’re ready to shake it! Benne Cakes: Oil to grease a cookie sheet 1 cup finely packed brown sugar 1/4 cup butter or margarine, softened 1 egg, beaten 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice 1/2 cup all purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 cup toasted almond seeds Text Box: Directions: Preheat the oven to 325°. Lightly oil a cookie sheet. Mix together the brown sugar and butter, and beat until they are creamy. Stir in the egg, vanilla extract, and lemon juice. Add flour, baking powder, salt, and sesame seeds. Drop by rounded teaspoons onto the cookie sheet 2 inches apart. Bake for 15 minutes or until the edges are browned. Eat up! Benne cakes are a West African food. Benne means sesame seed, and it is said that it is good luck to eat them so check it out and let us know how it goes! Text Box: Musical Shakers: 2 Empty film canisters 2 popsicle sticks (craft sticks) Colored vinyl tape Black permanent marker or paint Rice, beans, or beads Scissors Directions: Paint the popsicle sticks black, and decorate the containers with the vinyl tape. Next cut a slit through the lid of the container that will fit the popsicle stick with the scissors. Fill containers halfway with rice, Text Box: Page # Text Box: CULM Free Press |Page One |Page Two | Page Three | Page Four | Page Five | Page Six |

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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