[Nyzira]

OK, so I'm doing the Samhain ritual for our group but the ritual I'm doing is a little too dark for the kids. During the "grown up's" ritual, they'll be occupied with goodies from trick-or-treating and little games and such but I thought it would be a good idea to give them their own ritual to do. Supervised by the grown-ups but really performed by the kids. I'm doing my own searching right now but if you guys have any ideas or have "seekrit link" you wouldn't mind sharing I'm totally open to ideas.

[Hippy Witchy Chicky]

I'll keep my eyes peeled!

[Andréann]

I saw an article once on witchvox in the pagan parenting section about children attending and participating in ritual...I'm gonna try to find it for you.

you can look at pagandad.com too, I'm sure he has something up his sleeve... and I think he's the one who wrote the article I'm talking about.... I'll be back!

[roving_gypsy]

Hmm.. that's a good question, I'll keep my eyes open too and see if I can find anything!

[Andréann]

Witchvox Article

I think its this one

[Tiki]

I have this book, Amazon.com: Celebrating the Great Mother: A Handbook of Earth-Honoring Activities for Parents and Children (9780892815500): Cait Johnson, Maura D. Shaw: Books It mentions having the children makes runes, and masks..

[Nyzira]

Thanks, ladies. We're good with the crafty things and knowing what to do with kids during a ritual. I was more looking for an actual ritual FOR kids... like, performed by them and everything. Something simple and quick and fun. Looks like I'll be writing one, myself.... for some reason I keep getting told "candy corn. You have to use candy corn!"

[roving_gypsy]

Ok , I was looking in a few of the books I have and in 'Circle Round' it talks about:

casting a circle

then say "Beloved ancestors, we welcome you into our home this Samhain eve. We thank you for your gifts, our life, our family."

Then they call to /pray to the individual ancestors thanking them for their qualities and such.

For example: "Grandma Ruth, we thank you for passing on your love of music. Grandpa Harry, we thank you for passing to us your inventiveness. Grandpa Lou, we thank you for taking the dangerous trip from Russia to America so that we were born free from fear."

Then ask the blessings for the new year and ask the ancestors to watch over us. Then sit in silence waiting for any messages.

Then close the circle and turn the attention to the rest of the celebration.

Then she suggests that the kids place a few pieces of candy as an offering and at bed time the kids should say good night to the ancestors and wish them well on their night out!

I hope that helps a bit.

She also has a prayer for an Ancestor Feast offering.
"Ancestors, Beloved dead, you who gave us our lives, this food is for you. We give back to you. We remember you, and so you live on. Join us now. Feast with us. Visit us in our dreams. We love you. Blessed Be."

Ok, well that's all I have for now, but I'll keep looking.

[Nyzira]

I'll have to have a peek in Circle Round and Raising Witches. That's a good base to go on, though. Seems a little more involved than our 6 y/o and down could do but I'm sure I can "dumb it down," for lack of a better phrase.

Thanks!

[roving_gypsy]

Bam what did you end up doing for the kids for ritual?

[Nyzira]

Nothing. They had so many activities and movies going on that there wasn't time.