These build upon the daily and weekly rhythms and are experienced with verse, through song and story, drama, colour and movement.
Easter, Whitsun and Advent are observed by the teachers and students within the school, while Autumn Harvest, Midwinter, Spring, The Christmas Carol Evening and Shepherds Play are celebrated with the wider community. These festivals form part of the curriculum and therefore students must attend as if it were a regular school day.
“The festivals are nodal points of the year which unite us with the Spirit of the Universe”.
Rudolf Steiner (1861 – 1925)
Autumn Festival
For the Autumn Festival, parents are invited to join their children for an Autumn picnic on the big field to celebrate, followed by the Autumn Festival Play – Saint Michael and the Dragon.
At the start of the week the Autumn Festival table will be in the hall foyer to collect any excess produce and preserves families may have. Following the festival, all produce collected is given to where there is a need.
Nā tō rourou, nā taku rorou ka ora ai iwi
With your food basket and my food basket the people will thrive
Whitsun Festival
In week four of Term 2 we celebrate Whitsun or Pentecost with the school. This festival marks the eighth Sunday after Easter and we celebrate it in several ways: firstly, we come together in the hall decorated with white doves by the Lower School and symbolising the Holy Spirit, to listen to a story and hear a short passage from the bible which describes the moment of Pentecost and is spoken to us by students in different languages; secondly, we return to our rooms in small groups of students spanning the entire school and have a short time together to enjoy a biscuit and a drink and each other’s company.
This festival tends to be slightly more subdued and centred than others but this sets the correct mood of reflection about the Easter events but also about the season that we are entering. We use it as a moment, through the story and atmosphere, to explore a sense of uprightness, courage and community.
Mid Winter Festival
We mark Mid Winter with our festivals for the Lower and High school. The High School meets in the darkened hall during the day and amongst candle light to celebrate the longest night around a gigantic map of the world and a biography to inspire us. Class 7 join the High School for this event.
The Lower School meet that evening for a lantern walk and the singing of songs around the spiral. This is the inward gesture of winter but also a little suggestion of the light to come: a looking ahead.
Spring Festival
Ka tangi te pīpīwharauroa, ko te karere a Mahuru
When the cuckoo cries, that is the herald of spring
Spring festival is celebrated in September with the community warmly invited to school for waiata, dancing, a picnic and spending time together. Students look forward to sharing with whānau maypole dancing and the Mummers Play.
