Michaelmas - Festival of Courage

What is Michaelmas?

Michaelmas (pronounced Mi-kel-miss) was originally a Christian festival in Western Europe during the Middle Ages. It is the feast day of the archangel St. Michael, and is celebrated at the end of September.

Because Michaelmas falls near the equinox, it is commonly associated with the beginning of autumn.  Waldorf communities use Michaelmas to teach students the importance of using courage to prepare for the colder, darker winter months as we begin to feel the impulse to turn inward after the long, warm days of summer and gather up strength and fortitude to face the colder days and long nights of the winter ahead.  In addition to honouring St. Michael and marking the beginning of fall, Michaelmas represents harvest time – when people prepare for winter.

In Waldorf communities, Michaelmas, or the Festival of Courage, is the first festival of the new school year.  Traditionally, children perform the play of St. George taming a fiery dragon with the help of the archangel, St. Michael, who gives him courage.  Following the performance, there could be a small harvest-themed feast that might include freshly baked dragon bread baked by the children and seasonal fruits and vegetables, like apples and grapes.

The story of taming the dragon symbolizes the inner courage it takes to face our human challenges. As the days grow colder and the nights grow longer, we must find and bring forth our own inner light when the sun, warmth and growth of the earth are fading.

St. Michael, who in some versions of the story, gave courage to St. George and in others, gives courage to all the brave people of the village who have to work together to save themselves.  Whatever the version, these stories give us courage to uphold what is right and true, and the strength to face the challenges that lie ahead. The story speaks to children in a deeply symbolic way, feeding their innate need for truth and justice.
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“Michaelmas is a great time to ponder our own inner dragons and to cultivate the courage and strength necessary for self development.” – from Waldorf Publications newsletter

Why are Festivals important to Waldorf education?
Festivals allow us to be attuned to the rhythms of the Earth and the community we live in. Regardless of personal beliefs and faith, every human being can connect with the magic and gifts that each turning of the seasons brings.  

How can you bring this Festival to your homeschooling family?

MICHAELMAS STORIES

Your family can read stories. ​The key element of these stories and the Michaelmas festival as a whole, is that it celebrates inner strength and courage. There are lots to choose from out there. Here are a few we found:

• In this first version which is typically told in Waldorf schools, the dragon is slain. 
• In this second version, instead the dragon is tamed by St. Michael and becomes a friend to all.  You can decide which version is best for your family. 
• Here's a version that has different endings based on your child's age.
• This one is a completely different story about a little mouse named Arnold who must call upon his own courage and bravery.
• And this one, by Daily Wonder's own, Jennifer Ross, calls for Courage in the Dark
• In the below read-aloud story, "Saint George and the Dragon," by Margaret Hodges, illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman and narrated by Jennifer Ross, a nameless knight is sent by the Queen of Faeries to fight a dragon terrorizing the land. Accompanied by Princess Una, the knight defeats the dragon and is known as Saint George after that. This read-aloud story is appropriate for children aged 7 and up. ​

FALL VERSES

Autumn verse:
Golden light is turning grey,
Mists begin to rule the day.
Bare the trees, their branches lift;
Clouds of dead leaves earthward drift.

Through the field the farmer goes,
Seeds of ripened corn he sows;
Trusts the earth will hold it warm,
Shelter it from cold and harm.
For he knows, that warmth and light
Live there, hidden from our sight;
And beneath a sheltering wing,
Deep below, new life will spring!
Deep below, deep below, new life will spring!

Autumn Blessing:
Brave and true will I be,
Each good deed sets me free,
Each kind word makes me strong.
I will fight for the right!
I will conquer the wrong!

Sword of Michael brightly gleaming,
Down to earth its light is streaming,
May we see its shining rays
In the Winter’s darkest days.

MICHAELMAS FEAST
Your family can spend a morning making bread and forming it into the shape of a dragon and invite friends over to share a fall harvest feast.  This is a beautiful story you can tell your children while you are preparing the dragon bread, as well as a recipe.

Mealtime Blessing:
Earth who gives to us this food
Sun who makes it ripe and good
Sun above, Earth below
Our loving thanks to you we show

MICHAELMAS SONGS
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Visit this site for for 10 traditional Michaelmas songs.

MICHAELMAS ACTIVITIES

Paper Mâché Dragon: When we once ran our little Waldorf school, for Michaelmas one year, we had students create a paper mâché dragon.  Michaelmas is the Festival of Courage and a time to gather our strength to overcome the shadows within us, shadows like bad habits.  We asked students and families to write any bad habits they were wanting to free themselves of on pieces of paper.  Then we had them place those inside the dragon's mouth to later be consumed by fire thereby releasing them. After the festival, the dragon was brought to safe place on a family's property to be burned.  You could easily create this at home with your child(ren) in the way that would work best for you.

Michaelmas Swords: Make these simple wooden swords from branches you find outside.

Dragon Salt-Dough Candle Holders: These Easy to make dragon candle holders can become your fall table centre piece.

Fun Outdoor Activities: Go outside and choose activities that require strength, courage, and bravery, such as; going on a challenging hike, having a tug-of-war with friends and family, and having a scavenger hunt for “dragon eggs” (these can be small gourds spray-painted gold).

​Michaelmas is the beginning of the fall season, and the beauty of homeschooling is that these activities can be extended and enjoyed throughout October.

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Parent Reflection

As Parents, this is a wonderful opportunity to use this time to focus on our inner work and spiritual growth. Take time for meditation and journal writing, and think about the areas you would like to grow. Here are some questions you can reflect on:

• What tangible and intangible gifts have you harvested this summer?  How will these gifts bring you courage through the dark days ahead?
• Are there aspects of your life where you feel worry is overpowering you?  Can you hold these worries with love and compassion?
• In many ways the dragon of Western mythology represents our fears, doubts and anxiety. The more we deny them or suppress them, the fiercer they become. In what ways can you be brave and vulnerable and allow these fears, doubts and anxieties to be brought into the Light? 

Whether you do none of the activities, some of them, or all of them plus more, whether you celebrate with just your family or beyond, may you find your inner strength and courage as we head into these darker days.