Festivals date back to ancient times when people would come together to celebrate certain times of the year for instance harvest time or to commemorate certain important events. There are many different festivals celebrated by people all over the world. Here at the McGregor Fountain Waldorf School we celebrate five festivals, Easter, Whitsun, Saint Johns, Michaelmas and the Advent Festival.
The Festivals remind everyone involved that we are part of a larger community. It brings a sense of seasonal awareness and that we as a School has a shared experience of the greater rhythms of life. We share the same challenges and commemorate the same events. We are not alone in this world. Activities for instance craft, art, singing and stories leading up to the festival, serve to bind children closer together and to bring the inner festival to life. On the day there is a set program where craft and art items are displayed, a story is told and songs are sung.
Festivals are an integral part of the structure of the year and permeates all teaching.