Reflections of 2020 and Bethlehem Star
- Clare
- Dec 21, 2020
- 6 min read
Updated: Dec 29, 2020
What a crazy, roller coaster of a year 2020 has been! There have been ups and downs (and lets face it, there have mostly been downs) and I think we are all hoping for better times in 2021. I try to look for the positive in all situations and (I have to be honest) it's not easy to look at the world and find anything to be glad about this year, as economies are struggling, families have been divided and livelihoods have been put at risk. Sadly, when people should be coming together, they have been pulling apart, and images of rubbish discarded on Dorset beaches in the summertime still stick in my mind. There have been moments of hope; reduced levels of pollution in Asia resulted in blue skies over New Delhi that had not been seen for at least a decade and, in other parts of India, the Himalayas were visible for the first time in 30 years. Fish could be seen swimming in the usually murky canals of Venice and birdsong replaced traffic noise in many areas. Unfortunately, concerns have been raised that these improvements will not only be temporary, but that the long-term effects of lockdown will be damaging to the environment as cars return to the roads, factories boost production levels in order to recover, and countries which are desperate to improve their economies, invest in construction projects and grant concessions to industries that could ultimately damage the environment.
For the moment at least, I am grateful for the little things in life and, as ever, throughout all these hard times and worrying glimpses of the future, my little garden has provided me with a constancy that has uplifted me in troubled times and has enabled enough work and exercise to stop me getting too lethargic! The children and I have enjoyed nature lessons in the garden, growing and harvesting our own food and, whilst my grander plans of a well-organised garden by the end of the year, have fallen flat, I have enjoyed every messy border and "misplaced" flower.
Whilst my time in the garden has reduced over these past few wet and windy weeks, I did venture out yesterday to plant some more young sedum plants that had sprouted from a number of stems I had in a vase:
I had placed some seemingly "dead" sedum stalks in water a few weeks ago and each of these had sent out several new shoots (with roots), which I planted into fresh soil. I am hoping this will provide me with a good quantity of young plants next year which I can spread around the garden and share with friends.
I was also happy to find a single flower on one of the dianthus cuttings I had taken earlier this year. This pretty little reminder of the summer has been placed on a sunny windowsill so that it does not succumb to the frost.
As we look forward to a very different Christmas this year, it seems strangely apt that 2020 will be the first time since 1226 that the two gas giant planets Saturn and Jupiter will appear to meet in the night sky. This cosmic event actually happens every 20 years, though it is frequently hidden in the sun's glare and therefore is rarely visible. It has been postulated that this conjunction of planets may provide an explanation for the "Bethlehem Star", which is believed by many to have guided the three wise men to the birthplace of Jesus on the first Christmas day. If you wish to see this inter-planetary "kiss", hope for a clear night on 21st December (which is also the date of the Winter solstice) and look southwest shortly after sunset. The conjunction will appear just above the horizon as a single, very bright object in the sky.
If the conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn isn't enough, and you are willing to stay up until the early hours of 22nd December, you could also witness the peak of the Ursids meteor shower, the final meteor shower of 2020. Jodrell Bank observatory provides a guide of other things to look out for in the night sky this month:
In case you need them, here are a few more simple craft ideas for the holidays!
1. Indoor Wreath: We used some of our preserved autumn leaves, some coloured paper and two paper plates to make two little wreaths to hang in our window. Ours were super-simple, though I have seen some beautiful examples of these using shop-bought artificial leaves, as well as the cut out and preserved variety. You could even make one with your child's hand prints.
2. Make a pine cone Christmas tree: Pine cones are the perfect shape for Christmas trees! You can paint them, add pom pom "baubles" or cover them with glitter. By adding a piece of ribbon, these could also be hung from the tree.
3. Decorate a Christmas tree for your garden birds: Garden birds can need a helping hand at this time of year so why not turn an outdoor tree, shrub or branch into a bird feeding station? Dried fruits, berries and small amounts of plain, popped corn can be threaded onto string to make garlands, apples can be hung as baubles and cookie cutters and "bell-shaped" yoghurt pots can be used to cut and mould tasty seed cake decorations. Some advice on making your own bird feeders are provided in the following links:
4. Make paper snowflakes: An old favourite, this can keep the children entertained for ages! I always forget how to fold the paper to make the perfect snowflake, so I have included a reminder (provided by the BBC Good Food website) here:
5. Jam jar Christmas decorations: Get the children involved in making your home look festive by creating some table decorations from an old jam jar and some garden foliage. Decorate the jars with ribbon, paint, twigs, leaves (or whatever comes to hand) and then fill with evergreen foliage to make a pretty little decoration. If you prefer, twinkling lights could be placed inside the jars instead.
A few ideas are provided in the following link:
Some tips on what plants can be foraged at this time of year, and how to arrange them, are provided by The Real Flower Company and Bloom and Wild:
Excerpt from A Visit from St. Nicholas by Clement Clarke Moore
Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a pedler just opening his pack.
His eyes - how they twinkled! his dimples, how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard on his chin was as white as the snow;
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke, it encircled his head like a wreath;
He had a broad face and a little round belly
That shook when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly.
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him explain, ere he drove out of sight-
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!"
Wishing you all a happy and healthy Christmas.
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