Happy Candlemas Day

Candlemas day marks the day between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox. In many traditions this is the mark of the awakening of spring.
Similar to the superstition of Groundhog Day the English have a rhyme predicting winters future on Candlemas.

If Candlemas Day bring snow and rain
Winter is gone and won't come again
If Candlemas Day be clear and bright
Winter will have another flight.

I really wanted to do rolled beeswax candles, but due to poor planning and the fact that the beeswax sheets are to brittle to ship in the winter we dipped candles instead. I remember doing it as a kid and it was fun for me to do. I took it as a task for myself, and the children ebbed and flowed out of the process at points throwing the chunks in the melt pot, other times Emma tried to dip, but mainly she sat just watching. Then she went off to take the baby doll to visit grandma under the couch cushions. An hour or so later I finished dipping, and the two 3 y.o.s were getting bored and antsy. To involve them I had them use playdough to make bases for the candles. They also decorated the bases, and candles. They are a work of small child art.

The wax chunks waiting to melt in their tin can.

Just after melting.

The two lone candles that made it through the lengthy process.

Emma's decorated candle.