Hello all,

Please note that the following is a joke, and that I really like the kids' school. These are just my feelings on Mitten Wreaths. Also, I wanted to post some cheesy pics.

I just wanted to send you all a Solstice Blessing. I have recently become more aware of such things as I've been planning the Winter Party for the whole Kindergarten.

Please note that this is not a Christmas Party. It's also not a Holiday Party. I understand the need to be sensitive to other Beliefs/Religions/Ethnicities/Celebrations/Preferences/Denominations etc.

However, we're having a hard time deciding what to celebrate.

There are Jewish kids, Muslim kids, Jehovah's Witness kids (no presents), Christian kids and Hindu kids in Kindergarten. And I'm probably leaving somebody out.

To accommodate all these backgrounds, the Winter Party currently consists of this: Making a blue and purple Mitten Wreath, a Snowman picture frame, a Snowman out of a tube sock, and decorating Mitten cookies. But we can't eat the cookie according to nutrition guidelines because this party is before lunch due to scheduling constraints. I hope the kids don't lick the icing off their fingers because that could be a $10,000 fine.

HOWEVER, I have a problem with all this Winter stuff. Why? BECAUSE WE LIVE IN TEXAS AND WE'RE LUCKY IF WE SEE A SNOWFLAKE AT ALL, MUCH LESS BUILD A FREAKING SNOWMAN! I am vehemently opposed to celebrating Winter when it doesn't really exist here....we're celebrating a lie!!! It's just stupid.

So I thought we could celebrate nature, and build some picture frames out of twigs. Then we can decorate them with dead brown grass and cactus needles. Ah....Texas beauty. But I don't want to destroy nature...we're doing this for 80 kids. Then, It crossed my mind to celebrate the Winter Solstice (December 21). It's the shortest day of the year, and then the days start getting longer again. People all over the world used to celebrate it. It happens every year, and there isn't any disputing it. Yes! That's perfect! Maybe it's a little Pagan, but at least it's better than celebrating the snow that doesn't exist. And anyway, what's wrong with Pagan? (Besides the naked fire dancing and virgin sacrifices.) We could all use a good Moon-Howling every once in a while.

What would parents do if their kids came home with a Solstice Wreath instead of a Mitten Wreath? And we could build cute little miniature Sun Dials! Haha! I can just imagine the outrage....over the sun cycles. Somebody, everybody, would be upset that we're celebrating that (instead of mittens.) We can celebrate snowmen even though we don't have them, but shortest day....I don't know. I'm not upset over not celebrating the Nativity in class. I'm not gonna force that on people of other beliefs. (Even though Addison has come home with driedels and geld two days in a row...she asked if we could be Jewish based on the trinkets. Just wait til she unwraps the Wii....then she'll be grateful for Our Savior's birth. Haha)

Anyway, we should just celebrate something more meaningful than mittens or ditch the party altogether. I started looking up Solstice symbols online to make a Solstice wreath for Addison's teacher (as a joke--we're friends). I was lucky enough to stumble upon these lovely Solstice cards.....I just wanted to give you all a Solstice Blessing for the daytime and the nighttime. Oh, and by the way, Merry Christmas!

Love, Ang