{"id":1241,"date":"2021-06-24T21:09:58","date_gmt":"2021-06-24T21:09:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/acaciawaldorfschool.com\/2020\/?page_id=1241"},"modified":"2021-06-24T21:09:58","modified_gmt":"2021-06-24T21:09:58","slug":"faq-rhythm-reverence","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/acaciawaldorfschool.com\/2020\/faq\/faq-rhythm-reverence\/","title":{"rendered":"FAQ: Rhythm & Reverence"},"content":{"rendered":"

Significance of the Festivals<\/strong><\/h4>\n

 <\/p>\n

What is the Significance of the Festivals?<\/strong>
\nSeasonal festivals serve to connect humanity with the rhythms of nature and of the cosmos. The festivals originated in ancient cultures, yet have been adapted over time. To join the seasonal moods of the year, in a festive way, benefits the inner life of the soul. Celebrating is an art. There is joy in the anticipation, the preparation, the celebration itself, and the memories. The five major seasonal festivals we celebrate are St. John\u2019s Tide, Michaelmas, Advent, Christmas, and Easter.<\/p>\n

St. John, June 24
\nAfter summer solstice, we celebrate St. John the Baptist\u2019s birthday for four consecutive Sundays.<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0John the Baptist was the one who prepared the way for Christ. He serves this function still today. It is a time when the cosmos brings the spiritual to man \u2014 a time when the spiritual, which animates and weaves through everything in nature, is revealed. The basic elements are the white lily, the rose, a picture of St. John, and fruits such as fruit and honey.<\/p>\n

Michaelmas, September 29 (lasting four weeks)<\/em><\/strong>
\nSt. Michael is known as the conqueror of the dragon, the heavenly hero with his starry sword (cosmic iron) who gives strength to people. Michael works today as the inspiring spirit of our present age. One of his special tasks is to infuse humanity with the power to recognize the reality of the spiritual, so that gradually man will come to experience the spirit and allow it to become an effective working force in human deeds. The basic elements are the Michaelmas play, flying kites.<\/p>\n

Advent<\/em><\/strong>
\nThe word Advent comes from the Latin word ad venire which means \u201cto arrive.\u201d Advent is a time of preparation; for children in particular it is a time of joyful anticipation looking towards the fulfillment of Christmas. During Advent, our thoughts and feelings of thankfulness go in two directions. Looking back to the past we are reminded of the great \u201cAdvent\u201d in history, when the whole world waited for the arrival of a savior. All the great Christian religions awaited a redeemer. The other direction is towards the present and the future. Before Christ\u2019s life ended on earth on Golgotha, he gave his disciples the promise of his return. Christ\u2019s return to mankind will not occur again in an earthly body. He will come in consciousness. The Advent season, which in earlier ages was a time of preparation and fasting, can be for us to a period of discipline and inner exercise in order to grow towards the second Coming. In the season of Advent, one word wants to be heard in every human soul: the word to \u201cbecome.\u201d The special color of Advent is blue, like Mary\u2019s cloak, the color of dusk and dawn. The basic elements are the Advent wreath, the picture of the annunciation of the archangel Gabriel to Mary, and the Advent calendar.<\/p>\n

Christmas<\/em><\/strong>
\nAn ancient festival celebrated when the sun sends the least power to the earth, as a festival which awakens in the human being an inkling of the very wellsprings of existence, of an eternal reality. It is a time when the soul withdraws into the innermost depths to experience within itself the inner spiritual light. \u201cFor to you is born today\u2026a Saviour.\u201d (Luke 2:11) Preparing the home for Christmas should be a sign that we are prepared to give space in us for Christmas. The basic elements are the manger scene, the tree, a 12-Days-of-Christmas calendar (from Dec 25 to January 6], and the presents [along with a present from the Christ child).<\/p>\n

Easter<\/em><\/strong>
\nDerives its name from pre-Christian goddess symbols of rebirth, fertility and spring. The renewal of man\u2019s being is celebrated with that of the earth. The resurrection of Christ in the morning, \u2018as the sun rose,\u201d is the beginning of a new creation, of new life, of new working of light within the old creation. Ancient symbols of the hare and egg are both known as signs of the return of life after winter\u2019s sleep. The egg has become the symbol of resurrection for Christians. New life breaks through the hard shell; this is possible because in every egg 3 golden sun, the egg yolk, is hidden. The egg is therefore not only a symbol for the beginning of the world, but also for the new beginning of creation which can be brought to life in every human being through the resurrection of Christ. The basic elements are the egg decorating, the Easter hare.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Significance of the Festivals   What is the Significance of the Festivals? Seasonal festivals serve to connect humanity with the rhythms of nature and of the cosmos. The festivals originated in ancient cultures, yet have been adapted over time. To join the seasonal moods of the year, in a festive way, benefits the inner life…
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