Another way of celebrating was to light candles. The candles were for protection of the household. Cleaning was another tradition at this time. If you haven't put Christmas decorations away, now is a good time! It happens to be 40 days after Christmas which was the traditional date to put away the nativity scenes. 40 days is a very special number in Christianity, so I've noticed. I might spend the weekend cleaning up some of the dust that's settled everywhere and burn some mugwort or cedar to clear out what I can't see. I'll order some new seeds for the garden. And I guess I'll finally take that wreath off the door. Somehow, I always forget that wreath until spring! The spring equinox will be here in 6 weeks. In the northeast, we all know that anything can happen in those 6 weeks and the 6 weeks after. I definitely remember a few May snowstorms in my life! Regardless, we're on the up and up!
If you want an early spring harvest of hardy greens, now is the time to start them! This is a time of renewal and new beginnings, so traditionally it's a great time to start the literal seeds of spring. (Though it may be a struggle to get anything into the frozen ground. I recommend small plugs in a greenhouse or windowsill.) Maybe you want to plant some seeds in the form of intentions. Remember those New Years resolutions😬? Well, here's a chance to reassess and try again, or set some new ones.
Young chickens may lay their first egg and older chickens will increase laying again around this time. They tend to slow down or stop egg production all together in the darker days. We've bred many of them to ignore those cues from nature, and some farmers will offer supplemental lighting to trick them. It's crazy how we insist on fighting natural cycles and push that on our birds. Chickens need a break too!
1 Comment
Elaine
1/29/2025 03:04:12 pm
So many positive thoughts! I love your inspiration.
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AuthorWe're nature lovers. We grow mushrooms, veggies, fruits and herbs on our 1/10th of an acre plot 4 blocks from the beach in NJ. We have chickens. We forage and birdwatch. These are our adventures in our backyard and beyond. Archives
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