February used to be one of the more depressing months for me, but now that we've established these annual traditions to celebrate in our homeschool and family life it's actually become one of my favorites. It might also have something to do with the fact that February is definitely the first month of Spring in Rome, with the almond trees in full bloom around the feast of St. Valentine (which is why one of his symbols in the almond tree). Despite the daily suffering of Spring allergies that those blossoms bring, February has become a month to celebrate hope, renewal, and love.

February 2018 Studies

February Events:  Groundhog Day (2), Candlemas (2), Abraham Lincoln’s and Julia Nelson’s birthdays (12th), Feast of St. Valentine’s Eve/Martedi Grasso (13), Pilgrimage to his relics at Santa Maria in Cosmedin (14), Valentina’s Birthday (21), Carnevale 1-13 February, Lent from 14 February on, President’s Day (19)

Themes and Topics for Readings: St. Valentine, Valentine’s Day history and traditions, Carnival, Lent, The Four LOVES- storge, philia, eros, agape
http://www.cslewis.org/resources/studyguides/Study%20Guide%20-%20The%20Four%20Loves.pdf

Place Studies (Integrated Studies--Geography, History, Art, Music, Natural Science, Language, Anthropology, Philosophy, Theology, etc): ROME

Special Saints: St. Valentine and Cyril and Methodius (14th), St. Marun (9th)
http://www.catholiceducation.org/en/culture/catholic-contributions/history-of-st-valentine.html

Prayer/Hymn: Ubi Caritas
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ubi_caritas
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R448WVra9ww

Memory Work: memorize a poem you like about love or write your own for recitation at the February Feast on the 13th! Memorize U.S. Presidents for Presidents’ Day

Song: 1 Corinthians 13
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbnJRbj_Vcw

Crafts/Activities: make Valentines cards/decorations using Sacred and immaculate hearts image from Trinita dei Monti gate, Carnevale costumes and events during Carnevale Romano

Copy Work: 1 Corinthians 13

1 Corinthians 13    New International Version (NIV)13 If I speak in the tongues[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing.
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror;then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

With February right around the corner, I'm looking today at the template for our monthly studies and the "minor feast" that kicks it all off (this name is a play on the "major feasts" of the liturgical calendar; our own major feasts are the ones that kick off the new season). Here is a collection of ideas for the celebration. Next, I'll share what our studies look like for the month of February. 

Minor Feast Template

Date: Around the first of every month

Agenda: tea party with lessons and workshops in the liberal and common arts related to our monthly themes and the four cycles of life in the month and season

*Light the seasonal candle and say the monthly grace and prayers for milestones of family and friends that month, sing litany of special saints of the month

* Serve the special themed drink and treat of the month or season, or something related to our monthly studies

*Play the monthly memory work or themed music in the background, reveal the monthly collage-still life and any other art study of the month

*Reading of an overview of what we are studying that month in the four cycles of life-- liturgical calendar, special saints, history and biographies, nature lesson and study. Talk about any special themes, crafts, events, etc. of the month

*Recitation of monthly multilingual memory work: prayer, hymn, poem, quote/proverb, word, storytelling, dance lyrics

*Update family journals-Book of Days, Stories We Shared, Family History…

*Sharing of memories, traditions, stories, etc. associated with the month

*Do a craft or homesteading lesson

*Go for a monthly nature study stroll with journals

*Do a folk dance indoors or outdoors



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Time has not been on my side so far in this new year, which brings me to today's posting of our January Studies, now already more than half way through the month! Well, you know what they say- "Better late than never!" This particular proverb has comforted me throughout my life! Happy New Year, friends, and may your days be long and prosperous. 

2018 January Studies

Themes: Time- linear, cyclical, eternal, temporal...

Virtue: build up the habit of self-control through games and daily challenges, watch and discuss the Great Courses video on the science of self-control

Four Cycles of Life in the month
Liturgical: month dedicated to the Holy Name of Jesus
Sanctoral: Elizabeth Ann Seton, Anthony of the desert, John Bosco
Human: Sages; Tony and Cordelia’s birthdays
Natural: orange and grapefruit harvest and related recipes, winter nature study, make fire cider and study other natural health remedies to boost the immune system

Readings: “All About Time”, “The Thread of Life”, myths of Janus, Christmastide tales, January in “The New Teacher’s Almanac”, New Year traditions from around the world in The Farmer’s Almanac, the life and work of St. John Bosco (video on formed.org)

Hymn: O Domine Deus (with related biography research of Mary, Queen of Scots)

Multilingual Copy-Memory Work:
The Jesus prayer
Only for Today prayer by St. John XXIII
Time quotes, proverbs, poems (kids’ choice)

Activities: Create the 2018 Family Annual Agenda, make Janus masks and a storytelling theater production of the Janus myth, make a clock cake with oranges, juggling video and practice with students

Field trips: the Janiculum hill and the cult of Janus