Summer Solstice
Activities
Dragon's Blood for Kids
- mixing bowl
- large spoon or spatula
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1 tbsp powdered cocoa
- 1 quart light corn syrup
- 1/2 cup non-sudsing soap
- 1 oz. red food colouring
- 15-17 drops blue food colouring
- 1/8 to 1/4 cup rubbing alcohol
- large jar with screw-on lid
(for thinner blood, use a bottle of dark corn syrup and 2-4 tbsp of peanut butter, plus the food colourings, soap and alcohol)
Put the peanut butter and cocoa in the bowl and add the corn syrup until the concoction is runny, mixing well with the spoon. Add the soap and food colourings and mix well. Add the rest of the corn syrup and the alcohol, mix well. Pour the mixture into the jar, screw on the top, and shake well.
~ submitted by: HMP.
Dragon Scales
- pine cones
- needle nosed pliers
- assorted paints (green, pink, red, gold, ilver - whatever you like)
- storage container
Pull off the individual "scales" off the pine cones. Paint the "scales" whatever colors you want. Store your pretty dragon scales in a see-through container and label it. Now you have dragon scales to use in those magickal spells children create.
Note: You can also create dragon scale by drying flowers such as peonies and roses upside down. Then remove the petals - voila, dragon scales!
~ submitted by: Franco.
Earth Puppets
- Use natural items found in the yard plus rafia or hemp string, tape, and glue.
- Select a twig that forks. You now have 2 arms and a handle to hold the puppet with. Find a fallen flower, and tape the stem to the handle for the head. You can also tape the stem of a fallen leaf to the handle for the head. For clothing, wrap a leaf around the handle, and your puppet has natural summer wear. Another puppet can be made with a pine cone. Glue the pine cone to the forked twig, for the head. Dried and fresh grass make loads of hair styles, beards, and mustaches. Use seeds or small rocks for eyes, nose, and mouth. Make clothing out of leaves and bonnets out of flower petals or acorn caps.
- Use a large box or table for the stage, and enjoy the show.
~ submitted by: Franco.
Family Crest
A twist on the traditional Family Crest, this activity gives children (and everyone else) and opportunity to honour their totem animal or familiar or animal guide and their family.
- Circular piece of wood - at least dinner plate size
- Paints and paintbrushes
- Hanging hook
Divide up the wood like a pizza with one "slice" for each family member. Each person then decorates their portion with symbols, images, colours, and animals that contain meaning for him/her. Write everyone's names (each in their section) and then attach a hook and hang it up in the family room.
~ submitted by: Angus.
Faeries
Faeries are very active on the eve of the Summer Solstice and in the days following. You might just be lucky enough to see one if you set out some sweet treats and some ripe fruits.
If you sit quietly in the darkening summer sky, you may see a faery fluttering about amongst the fireflies.
~ submitted by: Rhia.
Green Man and Summer Queen Masks
- top grain, vegetable tanned, thin grade leather (3/4 oz) - enough to cover your face for the mask you want. Do not use suede. A slightly thicker leather will give greater strength and more possibilities in tooling, but is also harder to mould
- Stanley knife
- scalpel-like tool
- heavy duty fabric shears
- strong steel spoon
- face mould - either a model head, or use plaster to make a mould of your own face
- decorations, paints, dyes, etc - make sure they are leather friendly. Leather dyes and Rub 'n' Buff are worth the expense, as is Satin Sheen to finish it off
Green Man and Summer Queen Masks
- Start by making a paper design for your mask. Use A4 and cut out the shape you would like your mask. Do not cut out eye holes etc. Just the general shape.Use this as a guide for the cutting out of your leather mask. Start by making the leather about an inch larger all around. Again, do not cut out any interior holes
- Soak the leather in warm water for a few minutes to soften it. Drain and pat dry with paper toweling
- Let dry slightly - about half an hour. Needs to be not too dry or too soft
- Stretch the leather over the face mould and get it into the initial shape - leave to dry for a few hours
Note: remember to wash your hands regularly to prevent the oils from staining the leather
- Start to seriously shape the leather. First, place it over your face to work out where your eyes are - press on the mask with fingertips to locate. Cut out a small, penny-sized hole, check the positioning and gradually enlarge to the size and shape desired. If the mask covers your nose and lips, do the same for nostrils and mouth. Don't forget to design straps and fix them in place
- Start to use the tools to carve, emboss, tool, and further shape the mask
- Once you are satisfied, leave it for 24 hours to dry, and then decorate it. When finished and dried, apply a glaze or varnish
Instructions and ideas for making plaster masks can be found at Mask Making
~ submitted by: Rhia.
Herbal Crafts
Make amulets (simple charms) of protection out of herbs such as rue and rowan. If you make new amulets each year you can dispose of the old in the midsummer fire.
Create dream pillows (mugwort and bay leaves in a cloth of lavender, blue, or yellow and sewn with red thread) and place under your pillow.
Create a center piece for your solstice altar using summer flowers. In a large vase put lemons and oranges at the bottom, fill with water then arrange your flowers.
Create ring of flowers around your cauldron or around a bowl full of mugwort.
~ submitted by: Franconian Die Drud
Midsummer Incense
1 part each of:
- Dried and Grated Lemon Rind
- Dried and Grated Orange Peel
- Dried Patchouli Leaves
- Myrrh
- 2 parts each
- Dried Rose Petals
- Dried Lavender
Grind all ingredients until as fine as possible and burn on Charcoal
~ submitted by: Franconian Die Drud
Paper Plate Sun
- A paper plate
- Yellow construction paper
- Scissors and glue
- Yellow paint and markers
- Googly eyes
Paint the plate yellow all over and let dry.
Meanwhile trace out the child's hand on the construction paper seven times. Cut these out and attach around the edge of the now dry plate to create "rays". Draw in a face and stick on the eyes.
~ submitted by: Anne S.
Summer Picnic
Why not celebrate the sun with a picnic? Take along yellow foods and drinks, use yellow napkins and plates, and glory in the golden life of summer.
~ submitted by Catherine M.
Suncatchers
Hang circular mirrors ouside where they can capture the sun's rays and send them dancing into your home.
~ submitted by: Catherine M.
Treasure Boxes
- sturdy cardboard box
- natural items
- white glue
- med-size paint brush
Start with a large shoe box and lid. Go on a nature hike and have your child collect nature's little treasure from the forest, the park, the beach, etc. Glue flat items to the box, and place the non-flat items inside. To give the box a more durable finish, brush on a coat of white glue diluted with water.
Encourage the child to tell stories of where the different items came from, or make up stories about the contents.
~ submitted by: Franco.
Rituals
Ludi Apollinares
July 5th why not hold family games to venerate the sun god of your pantheon? Activities that encourage physical displays, brilliant artistic endeavours, and some poetry or storytelling would be appropriate. The Ludi Apollinares were celebrated by the Romans in honour of Apollo.
~ submitted by: Anne S.
Plunteria Hiera
In ancient Greece the festival of Plunteria Hiera takes place at midsummer. The cult image of Athena Polias (the city's guardian) was taken in secret to the river to be bathed. Why not use this time to cleanse and rededicate your icons?
~ submitted by: Iphegenia.
Salute to the Sun
Perform the Salute to the Sun outside at dawn, and again at dusk. Feel the sun's energy filling your body as you move through the ritual.
~ submitted by: Catherine M.
Sun Tea
Using a green or herbal tea, place a teabag in a glass of cold water. Rest this upon a circular metal surface or mirror and bless it in the name of the sun. Leave it there all day. At dusk offer thanks to the sun, and drink the tea, filled with his energy.
~ submitted by: Callum M.
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2004-2007