Steiner Festivals - By Karianne
I write this article drawing on my experiences as a past Steiner student, daughter of an anthroposophical nurse, midwife, mother of three, facilitator of Fossil Bay´s baby- and playcircles and handwork teacher to the primary aged children.
Having attended a Steiner school more than 30 years ago, I still still remember celebrating the festivals. They were highlights in a specific period of the year. Living in the Southern Hemisphere, things looked a bit different, but the idea is the same. One particular event stands out - the Advent time, a dark and wintry time in Europe occurring four weeks before Christmas. Every school day started with just candle lights. It was dark outside, inside was candle lid with quiet music playing, creating a magical ambiance. In our school, we had a tradition of walking the spiral, a spiral arrangement on the floor made from pine tree branches with a central big candle. Each student, one by one in quiet reflection, walked to the centre where they lit their small candle on the main one, and placed it on the spiral during the return journey. This symbolic journey inward mirrored the introspection of winter, akin to seeds germinating in the earth. The room gradually lit up as each student added their candle, symbolising the spreading of our lights and the lengthening days after Christmas. As a child, I may not have understood the symbolism, but this annual ritual at the beginning of winter left me with a comforting sense of rhythm and cycle.
Celebrating a festival is not just about that celebration. It's part of a bigger cycle, where we consistently celebrate the highlight of each season. It supports us in living in alignment with the rhythm of nature and living with the seasons. We observe in kindergarten and school how the boundaries of rhythms help most children feeling safe; as adults we can let ourselves be guided by rhythms too. Every season has its special character. Spring is the season of air, flowers sprout and many animals give birth to their offsprings. Humans start feeling energised by more sun and warmer weather. Summer is a time to connect with others, late nights on the beach and our attention seems outwards. In Autumn, nature starts preparing for the dark and cold with some trees losing their leaves and the weather becoming wilder. We realise that the time of sun and late nights is passing. The strength of the plants goes inwards, just like us humans start to spend more time indoors, influenced by the weather. Winter is the time that the seeds are in the earth preparing to be ready for spring. Us humans have more time for reflection, rest, early nights and bringing our attention inwards instead of outwards.
As a parent, I believe that cultivating a connection with the seasons and nature is not only beneficial but also provides valuable guidance. This connection allows us to recognize and embrace the cyclic nature of life, understanding that very few things are permanent. This perspective extends to challenging behaviour from our children or navigating through emotional periods in life; it reminds us that these phases are transient. Just as the dark moments eventually give way to light, so too does the light yield to moments of darkness.
It's been a while, but I still remember surviving the tough first year as a new mom. I found myself thinking, "Winter is on its way again." I've been through it before, though. I know I can handle it because I've done it before.
Beyond festivals, there are simple ways to sync with the seasons and nature's flow. Just by eating what's in season, setting up a modest seasonal display at home, like you'd find in kindergarten and school, and bringing into the home a few flowers or leaves. We can easily attune ourselves to nature's rhythm.
In June, Fossil Bay will have its lantern festival, signalling the start of winter. With days getting shorter, we're moving into the darker time of the year, prompting us to turn our attention inward. During this festival, everyone carries a lantern, symbolising the light within each of us. We enjoy the crafted lanterns, sit around the fire, and share warm soup. No dancing or loud music here – the lively summer days are behind us, and our focus turns gently inward.
The festivals are special moments, a chance to celebrate the unique character of each season and share it with others. They help us live in tune with the natural rhythm of the seasons.
I look forward to celebrating our festival with you.