The Seasonal Celebration Series gathers individuals of all interests and backgrounds to recreate - and create anew - folk customs that help us connect to ourselves, our pasts and the world around us.
The Seasonal Celebration Series features local and regional performing & teaching artists from world folk traditions. It uses globally shared seasonal holidays as touchstones to highlight cultural individuality and commonality. The Series presents educational and experiential programming at Bethlehem's Ice House, and other LV community-focused locations, in two formats: GATHERINGS & FESTIVAL SHOWS.
GATHERINGS
offer an intimate setting in which to connect your inner landscape to the season through ancient folk arts and lore, singing and dancing, mindfulness practices, crafting and shared community.
Gatherings may include:
- candlelit music & contemplative experience (akin to sound baths, but with cultural music & spoken word)
- seasonal folk crafts
- poetic/philosophical/spiritual/literary/folkloric readings
- other activities! Depending on the season: folk dance, group singing, food and more
Each Gathering reflects the spirit of its seasonal time. They are history and folk tradition-based, while also incorporating contemporary elements.
Guests are encouraged to bring mats, pillows, and preferred relaxation aids to "music meditation" - based events.
Chairs are available.
Gatherings may include:
- candlelit music & contemplative experience (akin to sound baths, but with cultural music & spoken word)
- seasonal folk crafts
- poetic/philosophical/spiritual/literary/folkloric readings
- other activities! Depending on the season: folk dance, group singing, food and more
Each Gathering reflects the spirit of its seasonal time. They are history and folk tradition-based, while also incorporating contemporary elements.
Guests are encouraged to bring mats, pillows, and preferred relaxation aids to "music meditation" - based events.
Chairs are available.
Christmas Caroling at the annual Celtic Yuletide Carols & Jam at Godfrey Daniels
Celtic duo The Runach at an Imbolc gathering
Indian singer and storyteller Arati Shah-Yukich at a meditation hathering
Mexican Son Jarocho community workshop - songs & zapateado
FESTIVAL SHOWS
are large, family oriented, high energy, concert/theater/festival community parties!
Festival Shows take place on the Main Stage of the Charles A. Brown Ice House - 56 River St, Bethlehem
Festival Shows take place on the Main Stage of the Charles A. Brown Ice House - 56 River St, Bethlehem
TWELTH NIGHT with the Chivalrous Crickets
Celtic Christmas music, caroling, ceilidh dancing, mumming customs, trivia, children's games & hor'oeuvres
Celtic Christmas music, caroling, ceilidh dancing, mumming customs, trivia, children's games & hor'oeuvres
MAY DAY COUNTRY DANCE & GAMES with the Chivalrous Crickets
ceilidh & may pole dancing, community singing, costume contest, flower crafts, folklore & more!
ceilidh & may pole dancing, community singing, costume contest, flower crafts, folklore & more!
Why Seasonal Celebrations
Our ancestors, even as recently as a couple hundred years ago, tuned their internal rhythms to the natural world through communal ritual and gathering. They observed states of rebirth, rest, revelry and remembrance in harmony with the physical expression of the seasons. Seasonal solar holidays were opportunities for group and individual celebration, observance and intentionality.
Why Folk Arts
Humans' use of the arts as a vehicle to process, mimic and interpret reality is one of our defining characteristics. Folk song, dance, craft, story, game, adornment and ritual have always grounded people in their shared identities and experiences of themselves within the world. Folk arts are living traditions with deep roots, evolving branches and an extraordinary capacity to connect, engage and heal.
Who Is This For
EVERYONE - from the lifelong folk-enthusiast to the mildly curious partaker. We balance quirky and wild folk customs, cool history, modern mindfulness practices, depth, frivolity, extroverted shows and introverted spaces, to create events at the crossroads of many palettes. Designed to help you access the personally meaningful via the energy created by collectively gathering - we produce vibrant events that are as equally gratifying for those who prefer to watch and listen as those who wish to join.
Holidays
The Seasonal Series uses the modern Celtic Spirituality-associated "Wheel of the Year" as a guide by which to structure events. The Wheel includes two solstices, two equinoxes, and the four "cross-quarter days". Cultures throughout time and around the globe have observed these holidays by many names, and in different combinations. Additional cultural holidays, such as our annual New Year's-adjacent Twelfth Night and other pop-up celebrations, are also included.
Gatherings and Festival Shows don't necessarily fall on the precise astronomical dates, but often the closest appropriate weekend dates. The below list represents typical, though not exclusive, holidays for which Hearthsong programs.
Our ancestors, even as recently as a couple hundred years ago, tuned their internal rhythms to the natural world through communal ritual and gathering. They observed states of rebirth, rest, revelry and remembrance in harmony with the physical expression of the seasons. Seasonal solar holidays were opportunities for group and individual celebration, observance and intentionality.
Why Folk Arts
Humans' use of the arts as a vehicle to process, mimic and interpret reality is one of our defining characteristics. Folk song, dance, craft, story, game, adornment and ritual have always grounded people in their shared identities and experiences of themselves within the world. Folk arts are living traditions with deep roots, evolving branches and an extraordinary capacity to connect, engage and heal.
Who Is This For
EVERYONE - from the lifelong folk-enthusiast to the mildly curious partaker. We balance quirky and wild folk customs, cool history, modern mindfulness practices, depth, frivolity, extroverted shows and introverted spaces, to create events at the crossroads of many palettes. Designed to help you access the personally meaningful via the energy created by collectively gathering - we produce vibrant events that are as equally gratifying for those who prefer to watch and listen as those who wish to join.
Holidays
The Seasonal Series uses the modern Celtic Spirituality-associated "Wheel of the Year" as a guide by which to structure events. The Wheel includes two solstices, two equinoxes, and the four "cross-quarter days". Cultures throughout time and around the globe have observed these holidays by many names, and in different combinations. Additional cultural holidays, such as our annual New Year's-adjacent Twelfth Night and other pop-up celebrations, are also included.
Gatherings and Festival Shows don't necessarily fall on the precise astronomical dates, but often the closest appropriate weekend dates. The below list represents typical, though not exclusive, holidays for which Hearthsong programs.
TWELFTH NIGHT
the historic "12th Day of Christmas"
January 5
SPRING EQUINOX
also called Ostara or Easter
March 20-22
MAY DAY
also called Beltane in old Celtic languages.
May 1
SUMMER SOLSTICE
also known as Midsummer and St. John's Day.
June 20 - 21
LAMMAS/LUGHNASADH
from the Anglo-Saxon & Old Irish names.
August 1
FALL EQUINOX
also called Harvest Home and The Festival of Ingathering.
September 20-21
ALL HALLOWS EVE
also called All Souls Day and Samhain in Old Irish.
November 1
WINTER SOLSTICE
also called Yule in the old Norse language.
December 20-21