Festivals of Light

A Celtic Blessing of Light
“May the blessing of light be on you, light without and light within.
May the blessed sunlight shine upon you and warm your heart till it glows,
Like a great peat fire, so that the stranger may come and warm himself at it, as well as the friend.
And may the light shine out of the eyes of you, like a candle set in the windows of a house, Bidding the wanderer to come in out of the storm.”

Traditional

Light your lanterns, we are knee deep into festival season!

My father, who was Austrian, always joked that there was a Saint Day to be celebrated every other day back home. And it can certainly feel like that for families who are Waldorf inspired.

These last few months of the year seem to be chockfull of festival after festival. Starting with Michaelmas it is a long stream of events seemingly one after the other. As we focus on crafting celebrations that immerse our children in the experience of each festival, we can sometimes become detached from the impulse ourselves and forget that celebrating festivals is for us as well as our children.

For our children, we don’t bring into consciousness the meaning behind each festival. We are meant to carry it within our own hearts and allow children to unfold to its truths as they grow. It is upon us to carry the impulse and do the work for each festival, and by work I don’t mean the planning, but the actual striving each festival represents. The inner work that supports us through our own unfolding and growth year after year.

Each festival acts as a bridge between what is happening in nature and its connection to what is happening within our own hearts. You could say festivals are the reflection or outward manifestation of our connection to nature and the spiritual world. They call on us to attend to our own inner self throughout the year in relation to nature’s work.

One symbol that appears in festivals, especially those at the end of the year, is the lantern. It had me thinking this year about what a lantern can represent.

It’s basic, materialistic purpose is to protect a flame from extinguishing. The festivals through autumn and winter have a central thread that weaves through them; the keeping, growing and sharing of light through the darkest time of year. If we are called to keep, grow and share our light, both inner and outer, what is our lantern? What protects our light?

I don’t think there is one answer to this. Maybe it is as individual as the sparks of light themselves. For myself, I believe I protect my inner light by working on my inner self. I do not mean in the self-help book section way, but working on building my ability to be conscious and clear in thoughts, feelings and actions. In choosing what I attend to based on need and necessity. In reacting with thought and not being carried by thoughtless, habit ruled emotion. In acting with intention and purpose.

Focusing on these abilities within myself keeps the winds of distraction at bay and helps me filter what I allow into my spirit. Protecting my spirit protects my flame. So I guess you could say cultivating consciousness is my lantern.

When planning for festivals, I encourage parents to follow these stages:

1. Do your research. Look at the meaning behind the festival. Contemplate the festival, its message and how it fits within your family values. Carry the impulse with you for a few days and see what comes. I even suggest you read a few stories written for children about the festival. Their simplicity will also create a clear picture for the adult about the meaning behind the celebration.
2. Only after carrying the impulse within ourselves for a time can we really begin to consider how to bring it to the children. This is not yet the planning stage, but the dreaming stage. Look at the big picture, at all the activities that could be brought to the children. Songs, stories, games, crafts, decorations. Look at them all and see what will suit, and then, especially if this is the first time celebrating the festival, pare it down to only one of each. Keep it so so simple, so that the festival doesn’t get buried within the preparations.
3. Now is the time to decide who you will be celebrating with. Will it be family only? Will you invite friends? Where will you celebrate? Does your location suit the activities you feel resonate with you most? Or does one need to be altered for the other? If you will be celebrating with others, will you be responsible for all the preparations or will you invite other families to help as well?
4. And now the organization can being! Collecting materials, learning the songs and stories, cultivating the impulse within us to carry the celebration. If you are celebrating with other families, it is important to communicate the mood of the festival and expectations of participation. This can be done in a gentle and inviting way while still holding the space for the mood of the festival.

Some of my favourite books about the festivals are as follows:

Festivals, Family and Food by Diana Carey and Judy Large
All Year Round by Ann Druit, Christine Fynes-Clinton and Marije Rowling
Festivals and Their Meaning by Rudolf Steiner (can be accessed online via rsarchive.org)

I hope this helps you through your festival season.

Until next time,
Marina