Traditions, celebrations and re-writing their stories.

Having a young child offers me the opportunity to look at everything that looks 'normal' with a questioning eye.

Indeed babies, children do not act 'normal'.

They don't know yet what is 'normal'.

They just act in accordance to their own nature.

They eat when they have appetite, sleep despite any environment when they feel safe enough, they play with the most rare object and don't find any interest in the most refine toy.

This 'wildness' that they embody makes me question the traditions and celebrations of our society. It allows me to investigate their roots to see what is the true story of these traditions beyond their more recent religious and commercial appropriation, to feel the values they carry and think about how i would like to share them with our beloved daughter.

As a writer, this has been an opportunity to re-write the stories of our so normal 'traditions' such as Sinterklaas, Christmas, Easter... Re-writing their stories allow me to make the values they carry more vibrant, to allow them be the reminder that they are in essence of the change of seasons and the wisdom of nature they carry.

Does this mean that i would'nt hide eggs for easter to my daughter? On the contrary! Because those eggs are a joyful, playful way to celebrate spring and its fertility, I will have our house and garden transformed in a treasure hunt space.

We will eat with delight homemade (or not) cacao eggs, paint hard eggs but also we will also garden, plant seeds to remember that this moment in the year, is a new beginning. To put into the ground or water the seeds that we, as people and nature as the mother of all, have carefully gather and choosen during winter for our outdoors, balcony as well as inner garden are starting to bloom and need our love and attention to blossom to their full potential.

It is also the time to wonder in nature, to go see animals with their babies, to remember that we all come from the same seed of life, the same essence and that every life is precious, fragile and strong at the same time.

It is the time to remember to care for each other, and to prepare treats not only for our children but people around, treats that gives energy such as ladoos, called in our part of the world 'energy balls' and to maybe make them smaller in small eggs' shape and give them around.

It is the time to ask around, as the energy is growing within us, if some of our friends, families, need support to grow their energy as well. Maybe someone sick, or pregnant, or new parent needs a hand to clean, to get some soup, to have just some company or a postcard.

It is the moment to remember that we are all interconnected and to celebrate it fully with care, love, respect and joy!

This is the essence of the story I wish to tell to my daughter Opal, so she can see it as a ressurection of her own energy, of nature, a new beginning in the cycle of life, a moment to nurture, care and enjoy!

And you what story do you wish to share around those celebrations?