Brave Saint Michael is my guide,
As free and fearless forth I ride.
With courage like Saint George of old,
I dare to fight fierce dragons bold.
This week we are celebrating the festival of Michaelmas. "This festival marks the turning of the seasons. Traditionally, it is celebrated on September 29th. In Medieval times, Michaelmas was celebrated as a time for gathering: landlords gathered rent, people gathered food, and the food was gathered into cupboards and storerooms. A celebration was held to rejoice in the harvest if it was bountiful, or send up prayers for better harvests in the future. Later, the festival was given more of a Christian meaning and included celebrating the role of the archangel Michael as dragon-slayer.
The turning of the seasons marks a turning in our spirits as well. With the shortening days, we feel winter’s approach, and know that more of our time will be spent indoors. With the carefree days of summer, our hearts were light and seemed to match the warmth of the sun. Now that the days shorten and grow colder, we must look inside to find our light, and often this involves facing our inner dragons. This requires a depth of courage and tapping into the strength and light that will carry us through dark winter days.
In Waldorf tradition, Michaelmas is brought as a celebration of this strength of resolve, goodness, courage, and inner light.
Children are, of course, nourished by the mood and the imagery brought around any festival, rather than the literal meaning or history of it. The mood of Michaelmas is related to gathering, harvesting, working, strength, courage, and steadfastness."
-from Angela Mobley at www.rhythmofthehome.com
On Monday, I read a story called "Little Boy Knight" from Autumn Tales by Suzanne Down which told of a boy who wanted to be a knight. When the opportunity arose for him to confront a dragon, he prayed to Saint Michael for help who forged a sword for him out of the light of the stars. When the dragon saw the boy's courage and his sword of light, be begged not to be killed and promised to protect and serve mankind from then on.
After I read this story (twice, as requested), Grant and I drew a picture with our block crayons.
Mom's Picture
Grant's Picture
On Tuesday we collected leaves of all different shapes and sizes to make this leaf picture of Saint Michael and the Dragon:
Grant and Johanna had fun making their own leaf pictures.
Grant's Leaf Picture
Johanna's Leaf Picture
I also read a poem about Saint Michael and the Dragon. After that, Grant copied the first two lines from our verse for the week, and then he read the verse.
On Wednesday, I read a story about Saint George (who could be described as Michael's earthly counterpart)and his fight against a dragon from this neat little book that Grandma and Grandpa Webb found at an estate sale.
Afterward, Grant read one of his own books to me.
In the evening, we made dragon bread to go with our dinner.
I have no idea why Grant chose to wear his nerf goggles for the making of dragon bread..
I would say we conquered the dragon!
On Thursday, I read some verses from the bible about Saint Michael, and then I read this fun book about Mr. Tickle tickling the dragon until he agreed to use his fire for good.
Grant also finished copying the verse:
Since this is also a great time to talk about the harvest, I read this funny book to Grant and Johanna. It also tied in well with the fables as it talked about how a lazy bear gets tricked, not once, but three times, when he allows others to do the work. After I read the book, we made some salt dough veggies. Once these dry, we will paint them.
After I read the book, we painted our veggies.
Grant decided he needed a painting hat.
The kids also wanted to paint pictures.
Here is Johanna's painting:
Julia LOVED painting. She was painting everything.
Her carrot, her tray, her bib, her hands and this is her painting:
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