At Summerfield Waldorf School & Farm, seasonal festivals renew our awareness of the rhythms of the year. Festivals foster a child's relationship to the seasons, the world, our SWSF community, global cultures, and develops a lifelong sense of gratitude. Festivals are coordinated by the faculty and led by parent support in each grade/class.
Seasonal festivals renew our awareness of the rhythms of the year and foster the children’s relationship to the seasons, the world, our community and other cultures, as well as giving them a sense of gratitude. Festivals are coordinated by the faculty, with parent support from the classes, and by parents.
Autumn
Autumn is a season of balance, gratitude, and preparation. Festivals encourage reflection, courage in facing challenges, and appreciation for nature’s abundance as the days grow shorter.
September: Michaelmas
Archangel Michael is mentioned in the Bible, Apocrypha, and Koran. He appears as a spiritual figure and protector of humankind, inspiring strength, will, and courage throughout history. The motif of a conqueror of the dragon can be seen in much Chinese art, in Apollo and the serpent, in Krishna slaying demons, and in the familiar story of Saint George and the dragon.
Michael overcoming the dragon with his sword of light is an image that calls us all to be brave, to take command of the ‘dragon’ and transform it. Each of us has our own inner dragon of fear, greed, thoughtlessness or apathy. Michael’s qualities of courage, compassion, and steadfastness can be an inspiration to us all. The festival includes a workday in which students from 2nd through 12th grade work side by side on projects around the campus and farm. The workday is followed by a pageant (play) and a community picnic supper on the grassy fields behind the Lower School buildings.
October: Sprites Night
A not-so-spooky evening where spirit guides leads small groups along a meandering path lined with glowing pumpkins. Presented by our Lower School classes, Summerfield families and their guests journey along the Pumpkin Path around the campus, with pumpkins creatively carved by the Lower School students with their High School buddies as a fun fall project. Along the way, enchanted scenes from fairy tales and themes from the curriculum are presented by the Lower School classes. It all leads up to the middle field outside of Sophia Hall where a bonfire keeps everyone cozy while they listen to live music, and enjoy a simple warm meal prepared by the 8th grade class as a fundraiser. It’s a magical evening filled with creative, not-too-scary costumes, and family fun!
November: Día de los Muertos
For Día de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead, our students bring photos of their loved ones and classes participate by making offerings for the alter; from the paper skulls, to the butterflies, to the arch. All the students come to the alter to remember and honor those who have passed. On this day, we remember and share the stories of loved ones who have crossed the threshold.
November: Lantern Walk
Each Autumn, when the days draw to a close sooner and the night sky’s alight with stars, our Grade 2 class gathers for a Lantern Walk. This reverent tradition of walking together from their classroom to the farm – slowly and quietly, with their lanterns glowing to light the path and the silence broken only by their Lantern Songs – is a symbolic representation of several stories shared with the class this time of year. The children learn of self-sacrifice; of a time when whole communities would come together to bring in the bounty of the harvest and prepare for the long, dark winter. They learn of light – its changing form upon Mother Earth each season, and how individually we are each a small light but when together, we shine so bright. And the children also learn the story of Saint Martin and the tale of his gift to an old beggar man which represents warmth (given to the beggar) and the radiant light that surrounded the angel Martin dreamt about.
Winter
Throughout the month of December, we celebrate several global cultural traditions to honor Light during Darkness.
December: Festival of Lights
In the days leading up to Winter Solstice, our students and their teachers across the grades take part in a beautiful early morning gathering once a week called the Festival of Lights. This quiet, introspective time with each other in the darkened Sophia Hall, illuminated only by the flickering glow of candlelight, is inspired by the four kingdoms of nature (mineral, plant, animal, and human) and explores the theme of Light.
This coveted time of community reflection reminds us that when we honor Light, and the sacred spark that lies individually within each one of us, we too are recognizing and honoring our collective spark – a bright and powerful, ever shining presence which connects and unites us all.
December: Winter Faire
This holiday event includes hands-on craft activities such as gingerbread cookie decorating, beeswax candle dipping, face painting, student fundraisers; live music; a circus performance; puppet shows; and a delicious meal with homemade goodies. Local vendors sell a variety of lovely quality gifts: dolls, silks, candles, calendars, crafts materials, classic books, and handmade items.
December: Santa Lucia Day (Dec 13)
Santa Lucia Day is a tradition of Swedish origin that honors light during the darkest time of the year. Many second grades in Waldorf schools celebrate Santa Lucia Day (St. Lucy’s Day) and its many symbolic gestures of kindness, generosity, and service to others in a way that highlights the themes of light and community. It is a beautiful moment for the child to experience the connection between nature’s seasonal rhythms (darkness and light), cultural traditions, and the development of their inner life. Why we celebrate Santa Lucia Day (PDF).
December: Shepherds’ Play
Every year, since the beginning of the first Waldorf school, and for decades here at Summerfield, Oberufer’s second play in the trilogy of Christmas productions, ‘The Shepherds’ Play’, has been a very special gift for our community. The children, as well as the adults in the audience, learn the lively songs by heart and join in to sing along. It has become a wonderful holiday tradition. Throughout the play, the themes of kindness, hospitality, hope, and gratitude prevail along with the promise from the angels for a newer, gentler world. The simple but powerful messages in this folk drama are ones that bring warmth to the hearts of young and old throughout the long days of winter.
January 6: Epiphany Bonfire
All SWSF families are invited to attend.
On an evening as close as possible to Epiphany (weather and burn-day policies permitting), community members are invited to bring their Christmas trees and greenery to campus, to watch them burn in a glorious bonfire. Songs, hot cider and sometimes baked potatoes with all the fixings and King’s Cake are shared. Why we celebrate Epiphany (PDF).
Spring
Spring is a time of renewal and awakening. Festivals honor new beginnings, joy, and the triumph of light over darkness, celebrating growth, hope, and the earth’s fertility.
May: May Faire celebrations
At Summerfield Waldorf, the Preschool and Kindergarten teachers host May Day celebrations in their play yards each year, complete with festive Maypoles and flower crowns for each child. For the larger Lower School May Faire event, it is supported by both teachers and parents as a celebration of spring and the beauty it brings to our campus and our lives, in moving through the cycle of the seasons. The event includes maypole dancing, flower garland making, a procession with a May Queen and her court, a meal, strawberry shortcake and games. It takes place in the morning of a regular school day. Why we celebrate May Faire (PDF).
June: Commencement ceremonies
Eighth Grade Commencement Ceremony & High School Graduation.
One of the most anticipated days of the year, our commencement and graduation ceremonies are both inspiring and bittersweet as we offer congratulatory messages to the students who are rising from Grade 8 into High School, or sending our seniors in Grade 12 off into the world to do amazing things and continue to develop into amazing human beings.
