For a list of upcoming special events open to the
public, please click here.
Throughout history the world's civilizations have celebrated nature's
rhythms in a way that sustains and renews the culture. These traditional
celebrations have helped to reaffirm humanity's connections to nature
and to God, and they can be especially healing in our time. At the
Waldorf School, the school year is permeated by the light, food,
story and songs of the annual festivals, which foster a sense of
wonder, reverence and gratitude. The teachers, parents and children
work together to prepare for each celebration and you are warmly
invited to participate and attend. Check the weekly newsletter for
dates and times of celebrations.
Fall
Festivals
Michaelmas
The first festival of the school year is the traditional Christian
festival of Michaelmas (pronounced Mik'-el-mas) at the end of September.
This festival honors Saint Michael (Myk-i-el), an archangel mentioned
in the Bible, Apocrypha and Koran. He appears as a protector of
mankind, inspiring courage and strength. In traditional icons he
is pictured in the act of subduing a dragon, which represents the
dark side of human nature: greed, selfishness, and apathy.
This festival is celebrated in the kindergarten and the lower grades.
For children, this image of good overcoming evil is very important.
As Michaelmas approaches, they hear stories in school about the
brave hero who subdues the dragon with his sword of light. On the
day itself, the kindergarten children march the grounds with their
golden cloaks after receiving a bulb to plant for the fall and the
I children in the grades enact a play of the story. There is a picnic
with food provided by parents, and a series of games and events,
which test the child's strength and skill.
Halloween
Haloween has its origin in the Celtic festival of Hallowmas, which
celebrated the beginning of a new cycle of the Wheel of the Year.
Lore has it that the veil between the world of the living and the
dead is most transparent during that eve and therefore the spirits
of the dead, fairies, witches and goblins spirit about in the night.
At Sierra Waldorf School, Halloween is one of our biggest celebrations
of the year and is open to our community of friends and family that
extend beyond our immediate school members. Each grade sets up a
booth with activities and treats and the kindergarten playground
is magically transformed into a fairytale world. At this celebration,
homemade non-commercial costumes are preferred. Adults and children
are asked not to wear anything scary or gorry or masks that cover
the face because this can be very frightening to the younger children.
Martinmas
In early November, a Lantern Walk, commemorating St. Martin's Day
(or Martinmas) is held for the younger children. The children make
lanterns then walk the school grounds with parents and teachers,
singing with the glimmering lanterns held high to carry light into
the approaching darkness of winter. 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.
Feast Day
Much love and care is put into preparing the food in each of the
grades for the Feast Day celebration held for the whole school shortly
before Thanksgiving vacation. Tables are set up and decorated in
the lawn area where the grades children are invited to share in
this time of giving thanks for the bountiful harvest of the Autumn.
The kindergarten also celebrates with a feast of their own.
Winter Festivals
Advent
and Christmas Season
Advent is the period including the four Sundays preceding Christmas.
On a Sunday in early December, the younger children begin the advent
season with a quiet candlelit journey into the spiral of the Advent
Garden. The classroom seasonal tables and the stories over the four
weeks proceed through a Christmas theme from the animal, plant and
mineral kingdoms. On December 6th, St. Nicholas Day, that generous
soul, fills shoes left out by the kindergarten children with treats
and trinkets while they nap, then pays a quick and mysterious visit
to each classroom where he leaves a gift for the children and some
words of encouragement concerning their good and bad deeds. In the
classrooms, various preparations for Christmas are being made such
as dipping and decorating candles as gifts for loved ones.
Chanukah is also celebrated in many of the classrooms
with dreidle games or a feast of potato latkes. Just before Christmas
vacation the whole school celebrates the Winter Pageant where the
children perform songs, skits and music.
Spring
Festivals
Saint
Valentine's Day
February brings the beginning of the thawing of winter and the celebration
of the heart-Valentine's day. The younger children hear the story
of St. Valentine and each class has its own special celebration.
Easter
Easter is the festival of death, rebirth and the return of spring.
In the classrooms, colored eggs, baskets of fresh green wheat grass,
flowers and stories of new life in nature are shared.
May
Day
May Day is an ancient Festival welcoming the Spring. It is one our
biggest community events of the year and takes place on the first
Saturday in May. The school is beautifully decorated with fresh
flowers and the day is celebrated with food, music, games, and crafts.
The day culminates in the May pole dances beautifully performed
by the children. This event is open to our larger community of friends
and relations.
Graduation
and Closing Ceremony
The year is brought to a close with a special celebration. The graduation
of the eighth graders is celebrated with music, singing and speeches
by the graduating students and teachers.
