We are going to celebrate this with a lovely lantern walk which is going to be on this
Sunday 11th November
from 4.30 to 5.45 pm
at Woodlands -
Mycenae House gardens.
Walk starts at 4.45 so arrive in time to commence and for us to make sure your candle is lit ( we will have candles for you)
The parents, carers and leaders make lanterns and bake biscuits with the children, a few days before the Festival at the parent and child group session and if they want to at home too!
On the Festival day, in the early evening, we will all walk the school grounds with parents and family and group leaders, singing with the glimmering lanterns held high to carry light into the approaching darkness of winter. The weather forecast is good, with sunny during the day so hopefully we will be able to see a few stars...or at least Canary Wharf's lights!!
The lanterns are often decorated with stars, suns, and moons, which are symbols for the children of their own individual light.
Following a story of recognizing "the light" of another, the walk into the cold, dark evening, gives the children an experience of caring and sharing when the darkness of winter approaches.
The day of the Festival will be special and unique for each one of us.
We celebrate love and compassion and much more, remembering the story of St martin:
Saint Martin once saw a beggar
Who needed some food and some clothes
So he ripped his cape in two pieces
And eased some of the beggar’s woes.
Martin, Martin
He always helped those in need, in need
Martin, Martin
He was a saint, yes indeed!It is a special waldorf Steiner festival that each of us will interpret in a slightly different way:
The gnomes speak of Mother Earth guiding the path with light and love and warmth so the seeds and creatures can sleep safe and sound in the cold dark Winter...
The stars seem so near on a cool cloudless night and we are all preparing for Winter and hold our own inner light...I will try to emphasize a special quiet mood -less is definitely more.
We will sing a few lantern songs over and over again as we walk the school grounds.
The simple rhythms and words will penetrate the children deeply.
If there is too much, it will wash right over them.
We work, as you know, with repetition, simplicity, reverence and mood of soul.
During the walk inevitably someone's lantern blows out.
I’d like to make sure a few parents have a set of extra long matches or can carry a special light which they then use - in silence - to re-light any lanterns that go out.
I will go through the various parts of the Festival this week at the group session with you, meanwhile, I’m giving you a general idea so that you fell prepared!
The Parent and child groups will gather at Woodlands and the parents and children will look for their leaders; we will wear warm coats and boots and hats on, please arrive promptly at 4.30 for 4.45 start and I will try to light each lantern.
Then, we will start our walk, it will last a good 15 minutes with singing the lantern songs we all sang before during ring time; then we will gather in a circle to sing some more; then back towards the gates again to have a cup of warm apple juice and stars and moon biscuits; perhaps, whisper a quiet good night, put out lanterns - perhaps going around the circle in turn - in silence - pause, stand in the darkness and feel it. Maybe look up at the stars in a quiet moment of reverence. Then, hopefully with a mood of reverence everyone goes home. (let us hope for dry weather!)
Let us all try to experience the sacredness of a true festival, so the mood must be sustained and preserved. Whispering as you leave/ get into your cars would be great - and if each family thinks how they can take some of the specialness of the festival home with them - continuing to whisper perhaps at home as they prepare for bed - or a special Martinmas supper, perhaps a bowl of hot soup, that would be wonderful.
This is important - if it's just because "this is a nice Waldorf thing" then there is no truth in it. But if this is a real festival which hopes to touch on the spiritual truths expressed by its celebration, then this is something one wants to share with one’s children.
This is something for the parents to contemplate deeply as they prepare themselves inwardly for this festival - and the better prepared and inwardly coherent the adults are, the better it will be for the children, who will be truly blessed to share something so rare in our society.
some songs here:although the lyrics and melodies are a bit different, just to give you an idea!Perhaps I will record my own soon!
Lantern Walk Songs: http://astorytellingofcrows.blogspot.com/search/label/lantern%20walk%20songs
Love, Light and Peace
Susannah
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