Acorns Playgroup and Adult & Child groups are invited to this special event:

​ADVENT SPIRAL

December 1st

​Church of Ascension
3 to 4 pm


Thursday 1st December
2.30-3.00 pm Playgroup
3.00 to 4.00 pm Adult & Child


How the event unfolds:

This year the spiral will be inside the usual church hall we use for our sessions.

​It will look open and empty with festive candles all around.

There will be a spiral of greenery on the floor, with a candle lit in the middle.

There will be music and singing in the dim lights. It is a carols in candlelight mood.

​As you enter the church black door, please, leave buggies and bikes and take shoes off and scarves and coats.

​Quietly enter the hall, it should feel warm and magical.

Slowly take a place on cushions by wall and silently sit.

Join in with the singing.

Watch what happens with reverence and stillness.

Adults and their children may or may not take a unlit candle and walk the spiral inwards to take the flame from the centre candle, light their own, walk the spiral outwards and choose a place to place their candles in the spiral. 

As each person has a turn and more and more lit candles grace the spiral, the room becomes increasingly filled with light.

Nothing formal is explained to the children; it is a lived experience that takes place within them at a level beyond words.

There is no formal ending of this event, for the smaller children and their parents and carers, feel free to come in and walk out when you feel is the right time.

​We prefer to keep the quiet and reverence at this event, we will have plenty of time (at the Winter Festival the Sunday 4th December) to be merry and joyful, sharing food and drink!


​
Beginning in early December, this festival of light celebrates a kindling of the inner light as winter draws close and days grow shorter.
​It represents the renewed promise that spring light and life will begin again.
​This is an event open to all.

Please understand we celebrate Advent from the Christian Calendar, however, your unique interpretation is special to you and we like this event to feel open and inviting, so that all walks and religions may find their own meaning; it is about warmth and divine light, God's, or Gaia;
​
It is through the darkness of the Earth we await the birth of a new inner light to warm our hearts and strengthen our thoughts and deeds.

This is manifested in the Christ Child of light born on the night of Christmas.
All the kingdoms of nature – Mineral, Plant, Animal and Human – from beneath to above – await the coming birth. Advent is a journey inward to the soul, where we become aware of the eternal light that lightens our way.
It is also so beautifully entwined in the northern hemisphere with Winter Solstice and the return of the Sun, and in the southern hemisphere with Summer– celebrating the Sun. Advent is a fun, joyous time for children especially.
A time that will forever be etched in their memories.
 
For those celebrating the Advent festival, and to all spiritual beliefs and traditions, this time of year has something special for everyone – the Season of Light on so many levels.
 
It is a time of seeking and keeping that light aglow and sharing the light.







​

“ Mindful care;The art of being with young children”
For parents, carers, home educators & teachers of children aged 0 to 5

Saturday, November 19, 2016
11:00 AM to 1:00 PMat the café in Steiner House

https://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=35+Park+Road,+NW1+6XT,+London,+gb
​
  Common obstacles when dealing with babies/toddlers tantrums, difficult moments, and pushing boundaries.

Let's talk  about simplicity, slow parenting and how to resolve some recurrent issues.
We look at rhythm and repetition, meaningful activities, nutrition, sleep, free play, music/singing, storytelling and creativity.

Bring your questions and share your experiences.

Anyone is free to get tea/herbal tea and coffee, the café serves healthy organic food, if you wish to eat a light lunch you may do so at the café of Steiner House, where we will meet informally for this free talk/discussion group.

Run by Susannah Andrews, an experienced Steiner-inspired carer and trained Early Years practitioner, with experience as a Kindergarten teacher, Acorns Adult and Child group sessions Leader, mentor and Nanny.

Please note this event is for adults only, ideally, as we will be talking about the children!
​Babies on lap welcome.

https://www.meetup.com/London-Steiner-Homes-Meetup/events/235216966/

We regret to inform you that due to the persistent rain, for health and safety issues the Lantern Walk cancelled today Sat 12th Nov.
​We are sorry for any inconvenience caused.
​We will celebrate this festival with each individual group in the coming week.

* * * * * * * * * * *

In preparation for the Lantern Walk on Saturday 12th in Mycenae Gardens.
​
Inviting all families who have not had the chance to make a lantern yet.

​Join Susannah and the Thursday group session as we will be making lanterns.



Hope to see you all there.


​



​
Here there is more info (edited extract) about this lovely festival, taken from Faith Collin's website, which I find is like a cave full of treasures and ideas for us parents/carers and anyone interested in Steiner inspired family life...

(from: http://joyfultoddlers.info/ )
The actual day of Martinmas falls each year on the same day, St Martin's day on November 11th;
it is not commonly celebrated in the United States, or UK,  but it’s such a lovely festival that I wanted to tell you all about it. I love celebrating these ‘smaller’ festivals because they have not been taken over by commercial interests, and you can really shape them to be special events for your family.

What Is Martinmas?

Well, there are two parts of Martinmas. The first is that it’s the Saint Day of Saint Martin, and the other part is that Martinmas “adopted” the very old tradition of the the Lantern Walk. Most of us, depending on where we live, are starting to really notice that the days are getting shorter, and the nights are getting longer. As nature starts falling asleep, and the world is getting darker, it is up to us to light the world, with our own inner lights. We must look inside ourselves, and to one another, to light up our world. This light can be seen through warmth, and through kindness, and through doing what we know to be right. Saint Martin was one such man, who shared his red cloak with a beggar, then had a dream where Christ said to him, “What you do to others, you do to me.” Martin stepped down from his post in the Roman Legion to become a holy man. We, like St. Martin, can do things that are warm and friendly for one another, and this help to keep the world alight in these cold times.
We can also make external representations of our inner light, to light the world around us. One way to do that is by making lanterns. I loved making lanterns as a child! Over the years we made many different kinds of lanterns. These are some examples of the types of lanterns we made:

These lanterns are made from a tin can with holes pounded through with a hammer and nail. These can be very fancy, or quite plain, but when lit they look like little stars shining through (fill the can with water and put it in the freezer before hammering, so you don’t crush the can):


Other years, we made “stained glass” lanterns with tissue paper behind cut-outs from stiff paper painted with water color paints. If we wanted to be very fancy, we’d put waxed-paper into the cutouts, with leaves and crayon-shavings ironed between.


Then again, paper mache lanterns are some of the easiest to make, and most colorful of lanterns. They glow all over when lit!


And finally, one of my favorite (although by far the most complex) were the lanterns carved from a turnip:

Whatever the method, we would sing and sing as we made our lanterns. Then, when Martinmas finally came, it was time for our Lantern Walk. Parents and children would gather at dusk, and we would light our lanterns. Together, with our lights shining, we would walk through the land and sing our songs. Now, different groups do the lantern walk differently. Some walk through the woods, where it is very dark. Some walk through the neighborhood, to bring light and goodwill to the neighbors, like caroling. Some structure the whole experience to be soft and quiet and reverent, asking parents to keep the chit-chat to the minimum, so that it’s a truly reflective experience. Other groups troop around gaily, and end the whole thing around a huge bonfire, with songs and hot cider and camaraderie all around.

Get Ready
If you have a home-program and are excited to host an early-evening activity, by all means get busy! Likewise, if you are a parent at home and would like to invite other parents and children over to do a lantern walk, how lovely! But it may be that you can’t host an evening activity, or you don’t have a group of children. No matter what your situation, you can still make lanterns and celebrate the kindling of our own inner lights. Here’s what you might do:

Make Your Lanterns
First off, start leaving the lights off a little more, so that you and your children can really notice that it’s getting darker. Where you can, use small lamps or light candles to add more light. Then, start making your lanterns. One of the biggest-bang-for-your-buck lanterns is the paper mache lantern made with balloons, and there is a lovely description (with photos) of how to make that type of lantern here:http://www.waldorffamilynetwork.com/saints.html . Toddlers can help make this type of lantern quite easily. Or, if you have big boys who love to use tools, make a tin-can lantern. Take a used can and fill it with water, then put it in the freezer. Once it is frozen, you can put it in a plastic tub with a towel in the bottom, and make holes with a hammer and nail. If you get a nail started, a child can “help” hammer it in.

Sing and Tell Stories
While you make your lanterns, sing songs! A song that many people know is “This little light of mine (I’m gonna let it shine).” That’s a good one. I can’t find the songs I used to sing online, but here are a couple more that are sung on a YouTube video that you could use, sung by David Darcy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKgUFAytb2k&feature=related.
​You can sing one or two songs over and over again. Children love repetition! And between the songs, you might tell a story like this:

 
Lying in the meadow grass
And gazing at the autumn sky,
“Dear Father Sun,” said George out loud,
“It will be winter by and by.”
“The nights will be long, dark, and cold.
Jack Frost will freeze the ground.
How shall I find the light
With so much darkness all around?”
Said Father Sun, “I’ll give you from my
Last autumn rays, a spark,
If you will make a little house
To hold it in the dark.”
With paper, paint, some windows
And a candle it was done!
George came out and held his lantern
Up to Father Sun.
Suddenly the windows lit,
The spark was dancing bright.
Carefully,
George carried home
His lantern in the twilight.       
                      
(Now, some lantern songs):

The sunlight fast is dwindling.
My little lamp needs kindling.
It’s beam shines far in darkest night,
Dear lantern guard me with your light.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My lantern, my lantern, shining near and far,
shining like a moon, shining like a sun, 
shining like a silver star.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Glimmer lantern glimmer, little stars a-shimmer.
over meadow, moore and dale,
flitter flatter elfin vale,
pee-wit, pee-wit, tick-a-tick-a-tick, roo- coo, roo- coo


(Then, spoken verse)
My lantern, my lantern,
Sun and moon and starlight.
In the darkened heaven high
Shine no stars within the sky.
Darkened is the path this night
With no moon or star as light.
My lantern, my lantern,
Sun and moon and starlight,
Friendly little lantern bright,
Be my sun and shield this night.
Be my moon and sun so high.
No light is in the sky.



(And, finally),
I go with my bright little lantern
My lantern is going with me.
In heaven the stars are shining,
On earth shines my lantern with me,
The cock does crow, the cat miaows
Lantern shines, la bimba- labamba-labim

(then, after we walked in a circle carrying our pretend lanterns
we put the lanterns down in the middle of the cirlce)

There over the light are stars,
Here under the light are we.
My light is out,
We’re going home,
Rabimmel, rabammel, rum!

(then, pretending to ride a horse)
St. Martin, St. Martin, St. Martin
Rode through wind and snow,
His horse carried him so quick-ly on
In comfort and warmth through the cold he did go
His thick cloak around him tight-ly drawn.
In the cold snow, in the cold snow, in the cold snow

There sat a poor old man
He wore only rags and called with choked breath,
“Oh help me please – please if you can
Or the bitter frost will mean my death.”
St. Martin, St. Martin, St. Martin
Reined his horse to his side
It stood quietly by as if it knew
How with his sword, St. Martin would divide (we do the action of sword cutting cloack in two)
His warm, thick cloak right in-to two.
St. Martin, St. Martin,
Gave one half to the man to put on
The grateful man turned, but before he spoke
Noble St. Martin had already gone
Wearing his half of the div-id-ed cloak.
(I give a 'cloak'- a silk scarf- to each child, then slowly and quietly walk to the snack table where the assistant carefuly placed bread rolls on the table which are to be cut in half and shared and eaten with a bowl of soup, on the actual festival day)

PS some parents asked me about the story and I think it is more suitable for 6 years olds +
x Susannah


A Story of Autumn Light Once upon a time there was a little boy who lived with his mother and his father and his baby sister. He played all summer long in his shorts and bare-feet, feeling the hot sun on his face. Then, one day, the ground started to get cold, and he had to put on shoes. Then the wind started to blow! He was chilly! He had to put on a sweater to keep warm. The leaves started to turn colors and fall off of the trees. “What’s happening?” he asked his mother. “Autumn is here,” said his mother, “and soon Winter will be on its way. Do you see how the squirrels are collecting nuts for the winter? And the mice are collecting seeds. And our dog is growing a nice, thick coat to keep himself warm.” The little boy thought about this for a few days, and he did notice the squirrel collecting nuts. And when he petted his dog, he noticed that his coat was getting thick and bushy. A few more days went by, and the boy said, “Mother, it seems like the world used to be full of sunshine, but now it is getting dark. Will it keep getting darker and darker?” And he mother replied, “Yes, it will get darker and darker each evening until the deep winter. The world is getting ready to sleep.” The boy thought about this for a few more days, and he said, “Mother, will we be dark and cold, too?” “No,” said his mother, “We will stay warm, but it won’t be the sun that warms us as much. During these dark, cold months, we will have to find our own lights!” “How can we do that?” the boy asked. “We can do that by lighting fires in the fireplace, by lighting candles all around, by wearing warm clothes and even by making lanterns to take our light with us outside in the dark! And we can keep ourselves and others warm by doing acts of kindness, to warm our hearts.” That little boy and his mother and father made lanterns to bring their lights outside, and when they were done, they took their lanterns out and sang sweet songs, and knocked on their neighbors’ doors to take them some fresh-baked banana bread, to keep them warm as well. And the boy and his family kept their lights lit and their hearts warm all through the Autumn, and through the Winter as well.

When the Day Comes
When the day comes (traditionally November 11th, but if you’re just getting started, do it any day in November; nobody will know!), tell your children: “Today is the day! The day for our Lantern Walk! Today we will take our lights and our warmth outside with us!” Bake some banana bread or cookies together, for the neighbors, all the while talking about how much the neighbors are going to love it, how warm it will make them feel, and how warm you will feel as well! While the bread is baking, the children might color some cards, and then it will be time to make sure that the lanterns are all ready. If you have many more children than adults, and the children are very young, you might need to use those electric votives that “flicker” like a real candle, but if you can, use real candles. Even young children can be careful! Set all of the lanterns on the table, turn out the lights, and light the candles. In this darkened atmosphere, oh-so-quietly get your warm Autumn clothes on, with warm hats, scarves, mittens (depending on the weather in your area). You might hum the lantern songs softly while you dress, and when you have to talk, whisper. This makes the event into something special.
Finally, you’re ready to go! Singing your song loudly, give each child a lantern, and head outside. Sing all the way to the neighbor’s house, and ring the bell. Tell your neighbor that you and the children noticed it was getting cold and dark, and you made some banana bread to help them keep warm! Then back home you go. A successful lantern walk!

Songs and verses for Autumn and Lantern Festival:


 * * * * * * * * * * *

My lantern, my lantern, shining near and far,
shining like a moon, shining like a sun, 
shining like a silver star.

* * * * * * * * * *

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!

* * * * * * * * * * *
Lantern Making session for Parents and Children
​Thursday 10th November 10 to 12 at Church of Ascension - FREE!

The main thing about Steiner School's Festivals is to do something that you and the children can be excited about.

It may be that you make only one lantern together, or bake cookies in the shape of stars and moons...The sharing and the anticipation that brings warmth and love in a family!

What a wonderful way to go into Autumn!

Singing a lantern song...

I walk with my little lantern,
my lantern walks with me.
Above the stars are shining
on earth are shining we.

Oh lantern light
you shine so bright.
Oh hear the angels sing.
Oh hear the angels sing.