Winter Festival

When all our brothers

Have lit their light

No more shall continue

the darkness of night.

A few nights ago our whole school came together to celebrate the winter festival before the children take a break from school for three weeks holiday.

We shared soup, bread and stories in classrooms before walking the candle lit path to the baskeball courts where we all sat quietly waiting for the year seven students' fire eurythmy performance.

After the eurythmy each child lit their lantern in turn and the year sevens' lead the way to the bonfire which they then lit with their fire sticks; The whole school sang 'rise up o flame' as the fire took flight and danced into the night. The singing continued with each class in turn and then we took our weary girls home to bed.

The only down moment was when the big girl's carefully made (and very beautiful) lantern caught on fire and had to be extinguished with a bucket of water...I hadn't even got a picture of it! She took it in her stride.

Oh how I wish I was in year seven too - what glorious fun to swirl and run and dance with a fire stick blazing - as far as I know there has never been any injuries. It really is a spectacular sight and with the resonating sounds of the marimba echoing into the night you really had to be there, but I have done my best with these pictures - enjoy!