Our Michaelmas nature table
My first try at a window transparency.
This year's Michaelmas celebration consisted of traditions new, old, and variations of both:
We made our dragon bread. This year we decided to try the pumpkin dragon bread in Baking Bread with Children
and it was our most delicious yet. We may stick with this version!
Wet on wet watercolor painting of St. Michael fighting the dragon
dyeing silk capes with turmeric (nice handwork lesson with natural dyes there)
My children took over creating the dragon candle
And perhaps my most favorite part of the day - the Michaelmas pageant.
K was in charge of putting it all together. She created the whole thing along with the help of little sister C. I had no part in it. They really blew me away with all they did. C wore her princess crown, Little L already had the dragon accessories and was kind enough to allow his big sister to use his sword and shield.
They opened the pageant with "St. Michael's Harvest Song" that we used to sing at PWS. You can see a sweet video of another Waldorf homeschooled boy singing it here.
The dragon came out wreaking havoc and destroying everything in its path. Then the dragon forgot where the stage was and decided to fly all around the land instead. I was grateful for his flight, for his path proved a much better backdrop than the original stage/our house.
St. Michael defends the princess from the dragon
The fierce battle rages on. Both dragon and St. Michael are tired and worn down.
Then St. Michael rests underneath an apple tree while the princess prays for him. When he
rises the next day he is stronger than ever and ready to finish the battle.
The dragon now fears St. Michael and tries to flee but he just can not.
St. Michael defeats the dragon and peace is restored.
the cast!
Defeating my inner dragon seems to be harder than usual this year as I yearn for our life back in Oregon, especially with this being our first Michaelmas away from there, but my children reminded me just how fortunate I am and how much I have to be grateful for. I really don't know what I would do without them.
I hope you all had a wonderful Michaelmas and that you are able to conquer your own dragons!
You can learn more about the Michaelmas festival and see some of our past celebrations here (I thought I had earlier ones, too, but I guess not):
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
