Our Lantern Walk

Last year, along with a group of Waldorf inspired homeschoolers, we participated in our very first lantern walk.  It was such a magical time and we quickly fell in love with this very sweet festival (which is not surprising seeing how it is all about kindness and letting your light shine in the darkness).  This year everyone's schedules were such that a larger group lantern walk did not seem to be possible.  With how gorgeous it was all day today and how mild it is this evening we could not pass up the opportunity to mark this lovely festival with a lantern walk of our own.  Molasses cookies were made, a sweet story of kindness and autumn light was read, and our lantern walk (complete with singing) was taken.  The skies were clear, the weather perfect and our little lights bopping around the backyard were very sweet.  Oh, how we have come to love Martinmas!  We are looking forward to next year already!

Glimmer, Lantern, Glimmer

On Saturday we gathered with friends for a lantern walk. The night was crisp and quiet and all the children in attendance (all girls, by the way) were excited for the festival. We were treated to a lovely meal and then the story of Martin's Lantern was read. Once the story was finished we lit our lanterns and headed out into the night. It was peaceful and cool, just perfect for a lantern walk. While we headed down the path that would lead us through the woods we sang lantern walk songs (Glimmer, Lantern, Glimmer being one of them). As we wound down the path toward the exit we could see some beautiful lanterns glowing in the distance. Finally, we had reached the end and there in front of us inside what felt like a magical ring of trees some lanterns had been hung. It was simply magical! We all stood there in awe of how breathtakingly beautiful it was. Finally, after a few pictures were taken, we gathered our lanterns and headed in for a snack of molasses cookies and warm cider. Once everyone had warmed up and bellies were full we all said our "thank-yous" and "see-you-soons" and headed out into the night each of us with our lights shining brightly! 

The Lantern Walk Last Night

It was such a completely perfect night for the first annual Plymouth Church lantern walk last night. The wind, which had been so very blustery all day, was almost nonresistant that evening (thank you, Mother Nature!) and the stars and a lovely finger nail moon were present, too. We gathered in the sanctuary where lanterns were lit, lantern holders handed out, stories were read and songs were sung before we ventured out for the much looked forward to lantern walk. The quiet darkness of the night paired with the sea of beautiful lanterns shining their lovely light was absolutely breathtaking! We walked and sang and walked some more before gathering for one final song (easily the most beautiful of the night) and some pictures before saying our "good-byes" and "see you tomorrows". It was another truly magical night with our beloved church family. 

We are so incredibly grateful to be part of a faith community that we love so dearly, and who loves us just as dearly and has embraced us (and our Waldorf ways) so completely. It is such a blessing to be able to call Plymouth Church "home", to have the chance to be part of such a special place as this, to be able to share in the traditions that have been around for eons and to have the chance to help create new ones, too. 

Thank you, Plymouth Church, for being. Thank you for loving us and welcoming our love and our family in return. You are truly the beloved community and we are so incredibly blessed to be a part of it. Thank you for sharing this very special night with us. We look forward to many more lantern walks together for years to come! xo 

Advent Spiral Walk

Last Sunday, the girls and I headed to Michaelmas Farm to take part in our first Advent Spiral Walk.  It was a beautiful, crisp December day and the drive out was peaceful as both girls slept the whole way.  We arrived, met the chickens and goats that live there and got ready to experience this beautiful tradition.  Since photography was not allowed during the walking of the spiral I only have the one picture of it fully lit to share with you. 

We walked in and were in awe of the simple beauty of this room and the spiral.  On the log above was a tray of apple lanterns (you can see them glowing in the spiral).  Each child was handed an unlit apple lantern.  They then walked to the center of the spiral, lit their candle from the main candle and proceded to walk out, stopping wherever they felt was the "right spot" for their candle, placed it down and then finished walking the spiral. 

I was unsure how long it would take for the girls to want to walk it, or for that matter if they would want to walk it at all.  The first child to go was a little boy who clearly had done this before.  The girls watched in awe, and as soon as he had exited the spiral Grace hopped up to go next.  I was very surprised to see that she wanted to go so quickly, as Grace usually takes a little longer to get the lay of the land.  Clearly, she felt very at peace, welcome and sure that now was her time to walk.  Emma and I sat and watched her walk all the way with such confidence.  We could not help but smile big, goofy smiles at how beautifully she walked the spiral.  She carefully found the perfect spot for her lantern (and noticed then too all the wonderful little things tucked into the spiral) and headed out to rejoin us, beaming with pride the rest of the way.  Once Grace was seated Emma then hopped out of her seat, took her lantern and proceded to walk the spiral next.  She, too, was very focused.  Very reverent.  Grace and I sat there and watched with pride overflowing as our sweet Em completed her first Advent Spiral Walk.  Once all the children had walked, parents were then invited to walk the spiral.  I was one of very few parents to participate and I am so glad that I did.  It was truly an amazing moment. The best word to describe the moment was "magical" and when I returned to my seat the girls said: "You did a great job, Mama!" 

After the spiral was fully lit, and everyone had exited the room, the parents were invited to take pictures of it.  I wish that I had thought to take a close up picture of the apple lanterns while they were in the spiral, but I suppose that I can always do that next year, as the girls have asked to do this again and again.  Such a beautiful new tradition we have added into our world, and one that will bring many wonderful memories for years to come. 

Scenes From Our Lantern Walk

 

Visiting the hens. 

Our lanterns Thursday night after our Lantern Walk.

The new additions the girls made this year using the gorgeous lantern decorations from Twelve Little Tales. 

Martinmas is one of our most favorite festivals to celebrate. It's message of kindness, of caring for others, and of light in the darkness resonates deeply. We love that it connects us to the Waldorf community but also to our German ancestry as Saint Martin's Day is celebrated throughout Germany on November 11th. No matter how old the girls get I have no doubt that they will always celebrate Martinmas and make time for the Lantern Walk. xo 

On Lantern Walk Night

 Last night we gathered with friends from church for our annual Lantern Walk. We read Heather Sleightholm's gorgeous new book Snow on Martinmas, sang lantern songs and then walked through the dimly lit church and outside to the bell garden. Once in the bell garden we walked and sang and then gathered to sing our closing song- "Go Now In Peace" before heading inside for gingersnaps and apple cider. Though it was bitterly cold and windy last night the sight of the lanterns (and the stars shinning above) was a beautiful one indeed! Thank you to everyone who joined us this year. We are looking forward to next year's lantern walk already! xo

Lanterns For Martinmas

Martinmas is one of our most favorite Waldorf festivals (our other favorite being the Advent Spiral). This Saturday we will once again meet up with other Waldorf homeschool families for a Lantern Walk. The lantern walk is such a magical time! This year, inspired by this post and this post we decided to make some new lanterns.With today being cold and rainy, a couple of days before the Lantern Walk, we got to work on the new lanterns. They need a day or two to fully dry so we've got some waiting to do before we can see them aglow, sadly. Good thing Saturday's just around the corner! xo

A Snowy Lantern Walk

We went on a magical snowy lantern walk tonight. It was the first time we had taken one (and it's safe to say that there will be many more to come). After dinner we got into our jammies (followed by our snow clothes), grabbed our lanterns and headed out. The snow was softly falling and it was incredibly peaceful. We were the only people out except for the occasional car that passed by. It was fun to feel like this world was ours and ours alone. We explored and chatted and took in how peaceful it was as we walked. When we returned to the house the girls decided to play outside for a bit. Rosy cheeked and happily cold they came inside and requested peppermint hot chocolate to warm up with. As we sat by the light of the Christmas tree drinking our hot chocolate Grace said to me: "Mama, I am so glad that you came up with the idea for a snowy lantern walk! It was truly magical! I hope we can do this again and again!" We sure can, sweet girl. We sure can!

Our First Lantern Walk

We went on our first lantern walk on Saturday.  It was an absolutely perfect night, made even more magical by the lovely full moon that was shining down on us.  We gathered together, listened as the story of St. Martin was told, and then headed outside with lanterns in hand to begin the walk.  It was a beautifully clear night, moon high above and the glow of everyones lanterns made the night even more special.  We sang lantern songs as we made our way over to the path we would take through the woods.  After our walk was finished we all headed back inside for some yummy molasses cookies and mulled cider.  It was the perfect ending to a perfect day!