Winter solstice the waldorf way

Yule was spent in a rather normal everyday kind of day. We spent lots of time outside and enjoyed the warmth that has been unusual the past couple weeks. The night before we went over to a friends house, and about 5 other families showed up to go house to house singing carols. Z is not usually great with these big social situations but I realized he knew he was giving something special. He shook his jingle bell and watched the Christmas lights dance and knew he was a part of something great. Of course S loved this social environment and sang into between houses and shook her jingle bell with just as much gusto!
When the light started to fade on the evening of Yule, we bundled up and walked our neighborhood looking at everyone's Christmas lights. We brought the book 'the little drummer boy' and we sang rum pum pum pum pum the entire walk. They could feel the energy from the night before of a crowd of 20 to our little walk of 3, but it was still reverberating in our souls. When we got home no lights were turned on only the Christmas lights and candles. Dinner was eaten in candle light, despite my husband saying over and over that he couldn't see his food! The children took a bath with only candlelight, then got into their diapers and wool pajamas, we have wool pants, boots, and sweaters.

When I think about the ideal of simple living, these past couple days fit the bill. We have continued lighting candles at dinner and only using firelight to guide our evening routine and it brings such a warmth to the process. I know firsthand how magical candlelit evenings can be, my mom would have us eat by candlelight on occasion and it made us so much more aware of our food, the glowing light, and what was really going on around us. I often think how much I would love to live in th east, but then I remember my bread maker and crock pot, and stop mid thought. I can bring simplicity into our lives while using all the convinces of modern electricity, finding a beautiful balance is a worthy and lifelong goal.

As for now with Christmas fast approaching my children have no idea that most other kids have a list for Santa of things they have seen and want. My children know nothing of cartoons, store bought dolls, or many other materialistic thoughts. They will be getting a rocking horse that hubby found on the side of the road, and added some reienforcement and a couple of screws, a basket full of new tree branch blocks, wheelbarrows made from old bar stools, and some vintage books that I printed out and hard bound myself.
I also tried my hand at whittling. I made Z and S these little wooden gnomes, for 2 days these little treasures have not left their hands. I am now fully inspired by Stiener's, the creator of waldorf schools, thoughts on handwork.

Life is simple in this house, but it makes for happiness, lots of playing, and me in the kitchen, a lot! But good food is being made and lots of love is being shared while the children see what really matters, in our own little corner of the world.
Happy holidays, and hoping simplicity finds you this season!