November 11th is Veteran's Day in America, and Remembrance Day in the UK ... it is also the Feast of St. Martin, or Martinmas, and one of my favorite feasts all year. On this day we often make lanterns of one kind or another - a small but comforting light to shine through the darkness of a dark November day. Well, this year I needed something super easy - and I also happened to need a "stained glass" craft for my CCD class - and this little project fit both bills!
All you need is about one quiet hour and - for each child - a baby food jar (empty and clean), twine or wire, Mod Podge (or a similar glue) and paintbrush, colorful art tissue and a tealight.
First, we brush a thin amount of glue on a side of the jar, and then we stick little bits of tissue onto the surface, smoothing them out so they overlap a little but not so much that edges stick out. We work in small areas so the glue does not dry out. (For very young children, or children with fine motor issues, it's helpful to have the tissue already torn into small bits - some children love to tear it, though!)
Once the jar is covered with tissue, we tie some twine around the neck of the jar, fashioning a handle of sorts. (Thin wire can be used as well - with or without decorative beads.) And in this way, the lantern can be hung (from a tree branch, perhaps) or carried during a short Martinmas walk at dusk.
We use real tealight candles, but a battery-lit version would work just as well and of course, be less of a safety concern. But there's something so lovely about the smell of the candle mingled with the cold November air ...
Until Sunday evening, our lantern will hang in our front window, catching the light of the day and waiting for its moment to shine.
I have not yet decided if I will do this craft with my class today. I have the supplies ready, but will have to judge their level of "antsiness," lol, as well as our time limits. I may perhaps save this for a class closer to Christmas.
Other plans for today's feast?
Well, in this week's file folder, I had a crockpot recipe for "Hungarian Goulash" (St. Martin was born in what became Hungary), but I know in my heart there's no way I can put up with a house filled with "stew smell" all day! So instead, we'll have a simple, prepared chicken pie, cranberry sauce, potatoes and soft rolls we can split and share.
Sharing and giving to others is a hallmark of this feast day. According to legend, when Martin was but a young soldier, he came upon a beggar huddled by the side of the road. Taking pity on this poor cold soul, Martin split his heavy cloak in two and shared it with the beggar. That night he had a dream in which Jesus appeared in that very cloak. Martin went on to devote his life to serving God and the less fortunate. He is the patron of (amongst other things) soldiers and the impoverished.
Now, in years past I have made a simple oat cookie baked in the shape of a horseshoe, and I just may do so later today. (I have the butter softening on the counter just in case!) This cookie has to do with the legend mentioned above - Martin was riding a great steed when he came upon the beggar. It's a very simple and tasty cookie (described in this post from 2007) and if anyone would like the recipe please let me know.
And later today I plan to order some new pajamas for the boys ... and we'll do a "winter coat check" and see who needs what. (We'll also put aside any coats we can donate this month.)
The boys will also spend time outside today, helping Bill with the yard - there are leaves to blow and rake and many little branches and sticks to gather and stack. Earlybird and I will work on our brush pile - a little winter shelter for the birds in our yard.
All good honest work to work up good honest appetites!
:)
So my friends, I wish you all a happy Sunday and thank you all for stopping by ... no Call the Midwife tonight, so no "Masterpiece Monday" tomorrow though I may put up a post so we can chat about Once Upon a Time. But we'll see what the morning brings!
Have yourselves a nice day ... see you here again sometime soon!
❤
