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Michaelmas Celebration
||| Michaelmas is a festival that marks the end of the harvest and summer months coinciding with the Fall Equinox. Although the weather still tends to be warmer here in Northern California, the seasons will soon begin to change, and the days will grow ever shorter; the rain will come. As the outer world of summer sunshine dims, we are given an opportunity to turn more inward and can consciously gather inner strength by doing so.
Waldorf Schools around the world celebrate Michaelmas, which began as a harvest festival in the Middle Ages, to honor the archangel Michael (pronounced mai-kai-el). Michael is found in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam and is a symbol of good triumphing over evil and courage over cowardice. The celebration of this holiday teaches the importance of facing our fears and strengthening resolve.
“In the legend of Michael, we find he offers four gifts: strength, courage, the will to do deeds, and love, to those who are willing to undertake self-transformation and look towards that which is divine in every human being.” *
This school-wide celebration is the first festival of the new school year, and the way we celebrate is with an all-school play and pageant for Grades, along with the Harvest Festival for the Early Childhood. In school, the children are hearing stories and singing songs of courage, and Early Childhood may also bake dragon bread or eat pumpkin seeds (dragon scales!)
The Grades children’s pageant will include an enactment of Michael’s battle with the dragon. This story is to remind us that we all face difficulties in life, both internal and external, and somehow we must find the courage and strength to prevail. We celebrate Michaelmas in the Waldorf tradition to remind ourselves of this universal truth.
The pageant will be followed by games of skill and courage, including dragon tag, Jacob’s ladder, bobbing for whole fresh apples, a pogo stick competition, and more! The kindergarten will watch the play in the morning and all parents (who are able) are invited to attend as well. Friday, September 29 at 9:00 am in Willard Park.
We look forward to marking this season of courage and love with you, our community!
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*Mitchell, David. Why Do Waldorf Schools Celebrate Michaelmas? Pine Hill Waldorf School.
