Michaelmas: A Festival Of Courage
Please join us for our annual Michaelmas celebration.
Our Dragon Play will start at 12:50 to be followed by a Michaelmas feast and feats of courage for students in grades 1-8.
Community members are warmly invited to join us in tending the Michaelmas fire from the start of our school day until the play begins
Autumn brings a new feeling to the earth; the glorious colors and abundance of harvest gives way to the more subtle and inward tones of winter. In our own lives we experience that same turning inward as we move from the exuberant and outward-focused activities of the summer season into a more contemplative mood. While summer demands our physical energy, winter calls for inner strength to make it through the long, cold months. Historically, at the approach of Autumn, our ancestors in the Northern Hemisphere experienced the very real fear that they may not survive the winter. They therefore told stories of courage and compassion to bolster themselves to be brave during the bare winter months.Traditions from around the world include stories of bravery. Traditionally, MWS has re-enacted the story of George and the Dragon at our Michaelmas Festival to remind ourselves, as our ancestors did, to have courage when the world is dark and all seems lost. The dragon represents fear and the challenges we face within ourselves; George and Michael represent the strength, courage, and compassion needed to overcome our fears and challenges.
Minnesota Waldorf School’s Michaelmas Festival–specifically the play, but truly the flow of the entire day–is a tradition unique to our school. The play we perform as a grades community was written by teachers at MWS more than thirty years ago. In fact, when we bought the land we now call our home, way back in 2000, our very first community event was the Michaelmas festival. As the years have passed, teachers have added and edited this living document until our arrival at our current version.
Along with the play, the students will participate in a day full of activities including work time in the morning, caring and beautifying our outside spaces, a feast with family and friends, and grades-wide games. Below is an approximate schedule for the day.
Schedule of the Day
The feast is a very exciting part of our Michaelmas Festival! Please send the following food items with your student(s). If you have questions, please reach out to your student’s class teacher. No nuts, please! Please Bring Food to Share for the Feast!
Grade 1 & 8: In the morning on Wednesday, September 25th, please bring vegetables such as carrots, potatoes, onions, celery, tomatoes, rutabagas and other root vegetables. Any fresh herbs, in addition to vegetables, would be welcome and much appreciated.
Grades 2 & 7: In the morning on Friday, September 27th, please bring sliced cheese
Grades 3 & 6: IIn the morning on Friday, September 27th, please bring 1 pan of apple crisp, 9 x 13” or similar. Use your favorite recipe! No nuts, please!
Grade 4 & 5: In the morning on Friday, September 27th, please bring a loaf of sliced bread. Please include some gluten-free loaves as well!
All grades students should bring a plate, bowl, and utensils.
Each grades class needs to provide a large pot and ladle.
What to Wear
Please have your student(s) wear their MWS class shirt on Michaelmas.
Michaelmas is a day of work and play, so students should wear comfortable clothes that can withstand wear and are appropriate for the weather.
Parents, families, friends, and well-supervised siblings are welcome to come, particularly for the play and the feast. Please bring a picnic blanket and a bowl, plate, and utensils.
