The Lenten season is quickly approaching. It is the season leading up to Easter, reflecting on the Gospel of who Jesus is and the significance of his death and Resurrection.
Up here in the frozen north, Lent also holds the powerful metaphor of winters end, and new life coming in the spring. True new life being found in the Resurrection of Jesus.. This is a metaphor C.S. Lewis uses in ‘The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe’ to describe the Kingdom of God coming. As they say in the book ‘Aslan is on the move.’
For those unfamiliar with the Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis, it is an allegorical series diving into rich Christian theology. The themes discussed in ‘The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe,’ align perfectly with the Lenten season. Over here, we’re observing Ash Wednesday together with a Narnia Family Movie Night.
Lent and Narnia
‘The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe’ containes several Lenten reflections.
*Spoilers ahead, if you have not seen the movie or read the books yet.
As mentioned above, Naria is in a perpetual state of winter. ‘It’s always winter, but never Christmas,’ under the reign of the White Witch. Only when Aslan (the metaphor for Jesus), returns to Narnia, do we see Christmas come, and the frost melt into Spring. This is a beautiful metaphor for the Kingdom of Heaven to come. And those of us who live in the North and have survived a harsh winter can feel this metaphor in a deep way.
Another Lenten metaphor we see in this series is Aslan laying his life down for Edmund (a son of Adam who has betrayed the Kingdom). I love so much of what C.S. Lewis offers in this metaphor. Aslan offering his life in place of Edmund. Lucy and Susan being there at the stone table when Aslan lays down his life. But then more than anything, Aslan is resurrected!
The Witch knew the Deep Magic, there is a magic deeper still which she did not know. Her knowledge goes back only to the dawn of time. But if she could have looked a little further back, into the stillness and the darkness before Time dawned, she would have read there a different incantation. She would have known that when a willing victim who had committed no treachery was killed in a traitor’s stead, the Table would crack and Death itself would start working backward.”
-C.S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
Finally, in the end, Aslan defeats the White Witch and takes back Narnia.
This is the hope of the Gospel. God has not abandoned us! He is at work, on the move. There is a deeper magic at work. Christ died to atone for the sins of the world, and was resurrected back to life. He has defeated sin and death!
Though at a first read, our children may not catch all of the allegory. There are significant theological truths we can introduce our littles to through this allegory, and as they grow in wisdom and knowledge, may they also grow in faith. And may we grow with them.
Which Version to Watch
‘The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe’ is a classic that has been adapted again and again since it was created. Most will probably be familiar with the most recent Disney adaptation. However, this one is probably a little too intense for younger audiences. So I’m offering a few options. If you have older kids and kids that can handle intense scenes, you may choose to watch the latest Disney version. However, if that is not a good fit, you could also choose to watch an older version that is not as scary. Or even choose to have a family story time, adapting these ideas to fit with a picture book version. Or you could choose to read-aloud the book throughout the Lenten season. My 5 year-old is right now obsessed with the BBC Radio Theater version.
*Disclaimer: this post contains Amazon affiliate links. I recieve a small commission for products purchased through these links, but I only link to products that I truly think your family will enjoy.
‘The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe’ Movie options:
- Disney’s: The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe: I would definitely recommend this for families with older kids. The CGI on the stone table scene was pretty intense. My 7 year-old generally likes intense shows (She loves A Series of Unfortunate Events and Dreamland on Netflix) however we ended up having to skip through this scene, because it was a little too much. The rest of the movie she gave a 2 thumbs up and actually watches the series on repeat.
- BBC: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe: I grew up on the 1988 adaptation, and I’m pretty sure I wore out the VHS tapes from watching them so much. Because they’re older the scenes are not as intense, and may bring nostalgia to parents who also grew up on these. *Note, this one you may be able to find on YouTube.
- Animated: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe : Finally, this animated version is one a teacher had us watch in elementary school. It was released in 1979, so definitely an older cartoon, but can be a fun option for younger kids. *This one may be on YouTube as well.
Family Storytime options:
- The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe: If you have older kids or littles that sit well for read alouds, I 100% recommend reading through the original book. You may choose to make it apart of your bedtime routine throughout Lent, or schedule in regular family story times. There are also audiobook versions available for families that all want to listen together. Being that we are a bilingual family, sometimes I find it easier to listen to Spanish audiobooks with my littles as opposed to me reading the text. *Spanish Edition: El León, la Bruja, y el Ropero
- BBC Radio Theater: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe: I grew up on these, and I actually have my parents’ copy of the DVDs. I have really fond memories of listening to these on road trips, and now my 5 year-old is obsessed. If you are a podcast family, I think you may really enjoy this one.
- The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe Illustrated Storybook: This illustrated adaptation is geared towards children ages 3-7.
- The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe Board Book: For those of us with really little ones, the board book is perfect! It takes the main storyline and makes it short and sweet for even the youngest to enjoy.
Family Night Menu
Whether watching the movie, or choosing a family storytime, having snacks is a must. There are quite a few foods mentioned in the book. Tea with Mr. Tumnus, dinner with the Beavers, and of course Turkish Delight. The Narnia Cookbook can provide inspiration. However, here’s some easy menu ideas:
Tea with Mr. Tumnus:
- Boiled Brown Eggs
- Make-your-own toast (the books mention buttered toast, honey toast, toast and sardines… you could gather the toast toppings of choice and let your littles make their own).
- Sugar-topped cake
- Tea
Snacks with the White Witch
Dinner with the Beavers
- Fried Fish (For an easier option you could opt for pre-made fish filets, or use your own favorite fish recipe. For picky eaters you could just serve fish sticks.)
- Boiled Potatoes
- Bread
- Milk
- Marmalade Rolls (for an easier option, you could use pop-n-fresh orange rolls, or frozen ready-rise rolls).
- Tea
Decorations
This is super extra, but adding a few decorations can be a fun way to set the mood for your family night. If you are reading through the story as a part of a homeschool unit study this also helps keeps littles engaged.
- Smells: Light a ‘Narnia’ Scented Candle or whip-up a ‘Narnia’ essential oils blend. There are also pre-made Narnia blends. They all seem to be made to smell like a forest. So if you already have a forest-smelling candle or essential oil blend, you could totally just use that.
- Narnia Decor: I made a small decoration pack free to download for those interested. It has a banner, menus for tea with Mr. Tumnus or Dinner with the Beavers, bookmarks, and a map of Narnia. Click here to download the Narnia Party Kit.
- The Narnia Spotify Album: Disney’s Narnia Soundtrack is available for free on Spotify. Pre-game for your event by listening to the music before hand.
Fun and Games
Clearly the story is the real fun. However, if you are choosing to go the read-aloud route, having some hands-on activities can be a good idea for helping littles engage.
- Narnia Coloring Pages (Free)
- Narnia Paper Pals: These paper dolls would also make great decor for your movie night.
- Narnia Bingo: These pre-made Bingo cards can be printed or used virtually for a paper-free option. Either call out the characters, or play watching the movie (marking each character as they appear in the film).
- DIY Woodland Crowns: Make Narnia crowns to remind yourself that you too are royalty in Narnia. You are an image-bearer, made to rule with Christ. This is a beautiful truth to speak over ourselves and remember during the Lenten Season.
Baby Devotions 