Michaelmas, which occurs on September 29th, right around the Autumnal equinox, is celebrated as a harvest festival and has great significance in the Waldorf tradition. In a letter sent to parents to explain the festivities Ms. Wendy, Ravenna's teacher, wrote,
"St. Michael, by way of the earthly St. George, becomes an archetype of heavenly courage and inspiration. We are not alone in our efforts to meet the dragons of cold, hunger and darkness--be they physical or spiritual. Courage, honor and goodness are spiritual gifts given every human being if one gathers his or her inner forces, cocoons him or herself to enkindle warmth of heart, and lights the lamps of positivity and hope within."A few weeks beforehand the children see a weekly puppet show of St. Michael and the Dragon to familiarize them with the story. On the day of celebration the children had to conquer an obstacle course and "fight" a dragon. They dressed as "Star Children" with golden capes and and star crowns and "care for all things good and true."
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| Jumping up and down to show me how the cape works. |
When asked about the day Ravenna said that she got to be brave and was a hero. How's that for a morning's work?
2 comments:
She's adorable, Carrie! Michaelmas is one of the Waldorf festivals that I am really coming to love. We have celebrated it, at least in part, for about three years now. I think with our knowledge as LDS people of who Michael is, it adds so much. It's been interesting this year, now that Sariah is a bit older, I told her two Michaelmas-themed stories that were just a bit deeper than we've done in the past, and she really connected with those stories. She really, really connected with the idea that Heavenly Father sends angels to help us (which is how I explained Michael..and in both stories he appeared as an angel knight on a horse to help children in need). I also told Dallin, who is older, about the account in the book of Revelation about Michael casting the dragon out of heaven and what that represents.
She is so cute I love the action shots. I was just talking to Jen today about Waldorf and more and more I just fall in love with their teaching philosophy. I am so happy she is having a great time.
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