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Festivals and Celebrations
Since ancient days, human beings all over the world have celebrated festivals to mark familiar milestones
in the circling course of the seasons. These festivals help to link mankind in awareness and wonder to the
cycles of warmth and cold, light and dark, birth and death, and sowing and
reaping within the rhythms of nature. Individuals are inwardly nourished and community life is strengthened in the celebration of festivals.
Children delight in festivity. In Waldorf schools, festivals and celebrations are given particular emphasis. Following are
some festivals celebrated at the Great Barrington Rudolf Steiner School:
Michaelmas
In late September, Michaelmas celebrates the harvest and the kindling of inner strength and courage when all of nature begins to die. The central
image is that of Michael overcoming the dragon. The children celebrate with an in-school assembly of story and song, outdoor work or
artistic activity.
Halloween
 During the school day, grade school children parade in costume to the
auditorium for Halloween festivities. Costumes should be imaginative and homemade. Kindergarten children have their own special celebration.
Advent
In December, Advent is the time of preparing for the winter solstice and the return of the
light. The Advent season is celebrated in regular Monday morning assemblies with songs and stories from different
traditions. The early childhood teachers will inform parents
regarding special events such as the Advent Garden.
Also in the Advent season, each year the faculty and staff perform The Paradise Play and The Shepherd's Play from the Oberufer tradition.
The Paradise Play is appropriate for children in third grade and older.
St. Nicholas Day
On St. Nicholas Day, St. Nicholas and his sometimes rascally assistant, Ruprecht, visit the children. The children anticipate his visit with
delight. St. Nicholas is the giver of gifts - he is tall and dignified and his attire
resembles that of a bishop. He reads from his Great Book, speaking with wisdom and understanding to each child in the school about his or her accomplishments
and struggles.
In the kindergarten, St. Nicholas simply knocks on the door and vanishes, leaving a basket full of apples and nuts.
May Day
This festival of the beginning of summer is celebrated at the school with music, blossoms, ribbons and Maypole dancing. The local
Morris and Garland dancing teams visit us, and Jack-in-the-Green has
been known to appear. The dancing is followed by a picnic and games. Families are encouraged to attend, even though the first of May is often a school day.
Nowhere in the Berkshires is summer welcomed more joyfully!
Birthdays
Birthdays are celebrated as close to the actual day as possible.
Parents of early childhood students are invited to join the class and traditionally bring a wholesome, festive snack to share with the class. Parents
may share a special wish for their child on the day.
Grade school students celebrate their birthdays in a quiet and meaningful way, which may include lighting a candle, saying
a special verse or poem all together, or sharing a home
made treat brought in by the birthday child.
International Festivals
The Foreign Language program is enriched by the celebration of festivals that are part of Spanish and German culture, such as the
Spanish Day of the Dead.
Other
The beginning and the end of the school year are both marked with school community picnics. Picnic dates, celebrations sponsored by different classes, and other community events
are announced in the Mosaic Newsletter.
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