It's November and I am so excited for our homeschool Martinmas celebration. This month, our homeschool families will come together to share their light in the darkness of the shorter autumn/winter days.
When is Martinmas Celebrated
In Waldorf schools, the Lantern Walk takes place around the same time Martinmas is celebrated in Europe. This festival, originating in Germany, commemorates St Martin, patron saint of beggars and many other things.
Winter can be a difficult time for many, as we all become more reclusive and retreat from the community. During this time, learning about St Martin's acts of warmth and kindness can bring us hope. They also serve as a reminder that we must find our own inner light and share this with others.
Preparing Lanterns for Martinmas
In late October, early November children start preparing for the festival by making their lanterns. We made ours in our Waldorf homeschool meetup using glass jars, pressed autumn leaves, coloured tissue paper and glue. Creating lanterns that serve a purpose, can be a very rewarding activity for children. When they use their lanterns on the Lantern Walk, they proudly walk with their creations alongside their friends and family. It also retracts them from the modern day consumer mindset, as they learn that they can create so much themselves.
Structure of the lantern walk
The Lantern Walk often begins with a short story or poem, showcasing the qualities of St Martin. The story isn't just for the children, but also serves as a reminder to adults. As human beings, we are custodians of humanity and St Martin reminds us of this. Children learn through the actions of the adults in their lives and so, they will treat others as we do. St Martin shows us that treating others with love, compassion and kindness is a saintly and thus desirable quality.
After the story, we proceed on our walk around a park or forest singing our lantern songs. We usually practise these songs during circle time in the weeks preceding Martinmas. This ensures that children are familiar with them and also instils a sense of security and confidence in them. I talk about the benefits of familiarity and predictability in Exploring The Pillars Of Waldorf Early Childhood Education.
For the end of the Martinmas festival, I like to prepare and share baked potatoes with the children. Not only is this warming after a walk in the cold, but sharing a meal is a universal expression of love and happiness in all cultures of the world,
You can visit my YouTube channel to find me singing the Lantern Walk songs.
