WALDORF TRADITIONS
& FESTIVALS
The celebration of festivals is an important part of Waldorf education. A festival is a joyous celebration of life, and has the quality of lifting us out of the ordinary and into the mysteries and magic of the rhythm of the seasons.
Throughout history, festivals have emerged from people’s connection with their inner life and their search for the meaning of human existence. The celebrations are interwoven with the life of the earth and the cycles of nature. Many traditions recognize the inward realities behind different passages during the year, and that is why special observances cluster together on the calendar. In the Waldorf tradition, festivals are meant to reflect the reality of what is happening to the earth during important passages throughout the year.
Throughout history, festivals have emerged from people’s connection with their inner life and their search for the meaning of human existence. The celebrations are interwoven with the life of the earth and the cycles of nature. Many traditions recognize the inward realities behind different passages during the year, and that is why special observances cluster together on the calendar. In the Waldorf tradition, festivals are meant to reflect the reality of what is happening to the earth during important passages throughout the year.
Rose Ceremony
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Reaching back to the very first Waldorf school, the Rose Ceremony is a long-standing tradition designed for the oldest students to welcome in the youngest children. Leaving kindergarten and entering first grade is an enormous shift for children. To mark this transition, the older student presents a rose to a first grader during a reverent ceremony. The students walk together down an aisle towards a table while music plays. After reaching the table, the older student presents a rose to the first grader. The new first grader then puts the flower into a waiting vase. By the end of the ceremony, there is a whole bouquet of roses that adorns the table for the rest of the event. The first graders then bring the bouquet back to their classroom, where the teacher tells a story of the adventure their class will embark on in the grades school
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Festival of Courage
At autumn time, as the life forces of nature recede and turn toward a winter sleep, the inner life of the human soul is awakening. It is a time of conscious selfhood, a time when we celebrate the building and strengthening of our inner life. The relationship of light and darkness changes the world around us. It is at this time we challenge our students to develop strong, brave, free wills.
Each grade level plays a role in this festival. Each class will be participating in a project that symbolizes the dragon, strength, and courage. Kindergartners make beeswax medallions and dye capes, first graders bake dragon bread, second graders are knighted, third graders recite a poem, fourth graders sing a song, fifth graders perform a play, and middle school students provide the music.
Each grade level plays a role in this festival. Each class will be participating in a project that symbolizes the dragon, strength, and courage. Kindergartners make beeswax medallions and dye capes, first graders bake dragon bread, second graders are knighted, third graders recite a poem, fourth graders sing a song, fifth graders perform a play, and middle school students provide the music.
Lantern Walk
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A Traditional Waldorf Lantern Walk is how we welcome the Winter Solstice as a community. The essence of this festival is to acknowledge the light that shines forth from each of us and to kindle warmth and light in our hearts. This light needs to be protected, just as the lights inside our lanterns do so they don’t blow out. As the season changes from Autumn to Winter, days become shorter and darker. And as nature sleeps, we must be more wakeful in our thoughts, words, and deeds. This is a perfect transition into the holidays when we have so many reasons to be thankful and share traditions with family.
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Winter Spiral
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The gently glowing lanterns will give way to the candles of the winter spiral as we draw nearer to the Solstice, showing how our inner light must shine ever brighter against the cold. As nature sleeps, we must be wakeful! Apples holding tea lights represent the inner light of our students and the gift they share through the winter season. After hearing a story about winter giving, each class walks through our pine bough and tree stump spiral leaving their apples behind for all to see. This is also an evening event spread out over several nights.
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Oratorical Festival
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In cultures around the world, the practice of oral storytelling and recitation is a tradition used to pass tales of wonder and meaning down through generations. Waldorf schools integrate this practice of oral recitation from cultures around the world to promote literacy, build community, and foster emotional resilience by empowering students to use their words to express themselves. The Oratorical Festival, inspired by the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and in honor of Black History Month, will feature poetry performances by classes and individuals. Poetry can be original or chosen from published authors. Students will explore how words can be used to evoke ideas and inspire others to stand up for what they believe in and make positive change in the world.
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May Festival
May Day is a Northern Hemisphere festival (and is also called International Workers’ Day) and is celebrated in many Waldorf schools. It is an ancient tradition of celebrating the arrival of summer. Known as Beltane in Celtic lands, and celebrated by the Romans recognizing the goddess Flora, May Day is a popular tradition. The May Pole Dance is a joyful experience, and often the center of the May Day celebration. The May Pole often bears garlands and symbolizes the tree of life and growth of spring vegetation. This festival is celebrated as an entire school community. In most Waldorf schools, children from each grade take turns doing a May Pole dance. The patterns get more complicated as the children mature. Whole classes of children often prepare “May Baskets,” hand-woven baskets of new spring flowers that are then hung on the fence posts or door handles or front steps of neighbors or loved ones to wish them a happy spring.
Grandparents and Special Friends' Day |
Grandparents and Special Friends’ Day is an annual event at Seaside Schools that offers a unique opportunity for generations of Seaside supporters, friends, and families to learn and share all that the Seaside School has to offer its students. It signals an easy surrender to joy and an immediate understanding of what rises to the top as lasting: a child’s joy in showing what s/he has learned and what s/he can do. It’s wonderfully uncomplicated and yet captures something close to awe for both grandchildren and their grandparents. One looks at the other with absolute trust that everything s/he does will be admired only, and the other looks and sees absolutely nothing but pure promise. It doesn’t get better than that.
