Candlemas festival, candle making

Candlemas:
 Is a cross quarter day that falls midway between the winter solstice and the spring equinox, and in many traditions is considered the beginning of spring.

In the Pagan tradition this festival is called: Brigit or Imbolc which marks the sun’s growing strength, and the first signs of Spring. 
Brigid is also one of the four Celtic cross quarter days.



Throughout history, this has been the traditional time to begin to turn the soil over for the coming planting season. It is a time when the promises of renewal from the winter solstice begin to take shape, and we begin the process of coming out of the hibernation of a long winter.

 In the Christian tradition, this is also the celebration of Mary’s presentation of Jesus at the temple.

There are many ways of celebrating this Festival, the key things are:
watching nature and spot signs of renewal, like buds and shoots...bringing some indoors, bulbs, and small plants...
Decorating candles is a lovely activity.
Candles representing light, the sun...


Brigid the Goddes of Fire, Sun, warmth....
You can make pancakes that are round like the sun...
cooking connects to the stomach/pelvic area/chakra.
Eat the pancakes with golden syrup and sugared orange slices 9 again, round like the sun), light a golden yellow and bright orange candle,see below for making your very own orange candle.
Do something creative, orange is the creativity colour connected to the 2nd chakra; painting is good, especially on the floor and not on the table,sitting or squatting on a floor with pleanty of plastic sheets/newspaper as protection, on a large piece of paper, or create a sun dial or a paper transparancy or a dangling mobile that can catch the light, with crystals maybe...to stick on window ...



So, do anything that inspires you and connects you with rebirth, renewal, the sun, the coming of the spring...

  Candle making is an obvious craft of choice. Made with  rolled  coloured beeswax sheets. This is a good alternative to dipping candles when you're working with very young children.
And it's so easy most can do it almost on their own...with a bit of help!




All you need are some beeswax sheets and the proper wick.



Cut your wick so it hangs over each end about 1/2". Then press
it near the edge of the sheet. Room temperature wax works best.
If the room is a little chilly,  place the sheet on the
radiator cover for a minute or so to make sure it
wouldn't crack when we rolled it.

Roll it.



Roll it some more. When it's all rolled up, gently press down the
outer edge into the body of the candle to keep it from unrolling.

Gently press the top of the candle around the wick to ensure
even burning. Trim excess wick at the other end.

Voila! A Candle!



Or why not make an orange candle!

for the clever crafty people:


It probably smells a lot better too....
(Most candle wax are made from petroleum products and when burned are not a healthy choice).
You will need:
A navel orange (they are easier to peel)
a knife
Olive oil or other kind of vegetable oil
Lighter

Using a small, sharp knife cut around the orange – but only skin deep.
Use your fingers to work the skin away from the orange. Be gentle, so you don’t rip the skin! (If you are using a navel orange, the skin should loosen quite easily.)
Once it has been loosened, remove the skin – but leave the white stem-like piece intact. This will be the wick.
Fill with olive oil until it is about 1cm from the top of the wick. Dunk the wick in the oil, so it is coated. Light. Enjoy! The flame will last several hours.


There is another link to a similar candle - with clementine, using the other half of the skin and making a star shape whole at the top; very pretty!

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/how-to-make-a-clementine-candl-1453