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Nature-Based Learning: Lily-of-the-Valley

In shade gardens across the Hilltowns, Lily-of-the-Valley makes its debut in mid to late May. This delicate, fragrant flower is rich in folklore and goes by many names. Learning through the lens of Lily-of-the-Valley, let the different names of this spring flower start as your guide for learning this week…

Category: Curly Willow on the Westfield River, mindfulness, Nature Based Education, Sienna Wildfield Tags: Art History, Botany, flowers, Folklore, Lily-of-the-Valley, Muguet, Nature Based Learning, Observations, Sense of Place, Spring Flowers, World Culture

Music Trekking: Here Come Our Mothers

Here’s To Our Mothers! Although Mothers Day as we know it is not recognized all over the globe, there is not one single culture that doesn’t celebrate the roles of mothers, grandmothers and similar figures in their folklore, stories and songs. Do other cultures love their moms and like to sing about them? You bet they do! This month I wanted to share a song and video from the Zulu tradition. It’s… Read More

Category: Contributing Writer, Daria Marmaluk-Hajioannou, Video Tags: African Music, Folk Music, Folklore, Mother's Day, music

Discover South American Folklore in the Hilltowns

Mettawee River Theater Company to Perform New Outdoor Production in Western Massachusetts Beyond the High Valley: A Quechua Story Beyond the High Valley: A Quechua Story is a Peruvian folk tale where Imposing Condor and Resourceful Hummingbird do battle, to be performed by the Mettawee River Theater Company in both Shelburne Falls and Cummington, MA. This free outdoor theater production will incorporate masks, giant figures, puppets and other visual elements with live… Read More

Category: Cultural Events, Cummington, Hilltown Families, Puppet Shows, Shelburne Falls, Suggested Activity Tags: Folklore, Peruvian Folk Tale, Puppet, South American, Theater Production, western massachusetts

Shadows Between Winter and Spring

Anderson also writes, “The groundhog tradition stems from similar beliefs associated with Candlemas Day and the days of early Christians in Europe, and for centuries the custom was to have the clergy bless candles and distribute them to the people. Even then, it marked a milestone in the winter and the weather that day was important.

Category: Entertainment, History, Holidays, Reading Lists, Winter Holiday Events Tags: Candlemas Day, Folklore, Groundhog Day, Legends, winter

Legends & Lore of Easter Icons

Many traditions of Easter, a religious holiday, have their origins in pagan rituals and beliefs. The result is lots of legends and lore behind the popular icons, symbols and customs that are part of the Easter celebration.

Category: Learning Lens Humanities Tags: Easter, Folklore

The Christmas Spider & the Legend of Tinsel

COBWEB CHRISTMAS By Sienna Wildfield For the Kids-Made Holiday Bazaar my 5yo daughter made holiday cards using the Christmas Spider as her motif. Why the Christmas Spider? Well, last year she decided that the Christmas Spider would be coming to our house instead of Santa Claus. She explained that the Christmas Spider was Santa’s southern counterpart who gave out presents when Santa was busy. The Christmas Spider wears a hat like Santa,… Read More