Festivals
Our Waldorf community festivals serve to connect us with traditional cultures the world over, celebrating nature’s rhythms, important transitions, and significant cultural moments that mark turning points of the year. In Waldorf schools, the elements of festival – light, food, song, and story – permeate the classroom day to day; but the cadence of the year receives its form through festivals, providing a touchstone with the cycles of the earth and the soul nurturing they provide to foster wonder, reverence, and gratitude.
Winter Fair
A celebrated tradition at Susquehanna Waldorf, our beloved school magically transforms into a seasonal gem as parents create this event anew each year. Classrooms become spaces full of adventure for children and adults; the sweet smells, the bright colors, the softness of wool and silk; sounds of the season from many talented musicians – including our own students – and delicious fare to please a variety of tastes. Children delight in reaching for a treasure from our singing Pocket Lady’s skirt, a favorite of many for sure. Year after year visitors ages 1 to 100 enjoy creating a cookie cottage and crafting. Our school store, under the sycamore tree, and the silent auction, offer great gift giving possibilities. The fair raises money in support of our school while bringing people together in celebration. Simultaneously our community reaches out to the greater community providing donations for a worthy cause. With great anticipation we look forward to sharing this event with one another and you, do join us!
Michaelmas
September 29, midway between the northern hemisphere’s summer and winter solstices, the ancient festival of Michaelmas is celebrated. As summer’s warmth fades, and the cool crispness of autumn falls upon us, Mother Nature’s fruits and vegetables ripen for harvesting. Her gifts help sustain us through the dark cold days of winter and remind us to summon our gifts and inner strength to help balance our internal light with the darkness of the season.
Stories of good versus evil or light versus dark are often told to illuminate the balance of light and dark that we all must strive towards mastering. One favorite Michaelmas story is that of St. George taming the dragon with the sword of justice and courage given to him by the Archangel St. Michael. A celebration of strength and courage, of facing dragons both internal and external, Michaelmas is a great time to ponder our inner dragons and to cultivate the courage and strength necessary for self-development.
Martinmas
Martinmas is the holiday that occurs between Michaelmas and Christmas on November 11th. St Martin is best known for his act of kindness towards a poor beggar he encountered who was freezing in the Winter cold. Martin used his sword to cut his cloak into two pieces, giving one to the beggar. This act of compassion gave the beggar hope and comfort. The traditional symbol for the Martinmas holiday is the lantern. The lantern is the symbol of our own inner light which we can shine into a dark world. In Waldorf schools, we celebrate the holiday by holding a “lantern walk”.
Spiral of Light
A gentle, beautiful beginning to the holiday season. A large spiral made of evergreens covers the gym floor. At the center of the spiral is a candle. Each child is invited to walk the spiral carrying a candle embedded in an apple. They light their candle in the center and place their candle on golden stars along the spiral. Adults sing quietly throughout and the darkened room slowly becomes alive with glowing candles and the children are filled with the warmth and beauty of this experience. The winter days being short, and the nights long, this festival celebrates a kindling of our inner light and holds a promise that spring, light, and life will begin again. It’s also a celebration of quiet confidence, of carrying light in the darkness and sharing that light with others.