Chinese New Year Celebration Join the 3rd annual Chinese New Year celebration at VWS and welcome the year of the Pig! When: February 8, 3:15 – 5:30 Where: Vancouver Waldorf School *Join our fabulous team of volunteers! Sign-up sheet available (soon) in the hallway.
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The Advent Festival One of the most important aspects of a Waldorf education is the celebration of festivals. In our modern, urban lives, it becomes perhaps even more important to highlight nature’s key transitional points as ways of reminding us that, in spite of how it may seem, we are not separate from nature. In addition to helping to keep
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Candlemas On February 2, many people in the northern hemisphere celebrate the festival of Candlemas. In ancient times, Candlemas marked the end of the Christmas season when the tree was taken down and burned in a bonfire to hareld in longer days. In Ireland, the Celtic goddess Brigit was honoured during this traditional Gaelic festival to mark the beginning of spring. In
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4th Candle of Advent The fourth light of Advent is the light of humankind– The light of hope that we may learn to love and understand.
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Christmastide At the Winter Solstice, on Christmastide, the Earth breathes in. The seed babies are deep underground and the animals, in their shaggy coats, are warm in their barns or dens. We draw the stars into our homes by lighting candles and placing lights on our trees. Our outdoor activities are reduced dramatically. And we become more contemplative as we
Continue Reading →3rd Candle of Advent The third light of Advent is the light of beasts– All await the birth, from the greatest and in least. photo credit:http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Liesel_16-12-2012_3._Advent.jpg
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Santa Lucia Santa Lucia, Thy light is glowing All through the darkest night, comfort bestowing Dreams float on wings of night, Comes then the morning light Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia Through silent winter gloom, Thy song comes winging to Waken the Earth anew, Glad carols bringing, Come thou, oh queen of Night, Wearing thy crown so bright, Santa Lucia, Santa
Continue Reading →2nd Candle of Advent The second light of Advent is the light of plants– Plants that reach up to the sun and in the breezes dance.
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Saint Nicholas Day Saint Nicholas, the patron saint of children, is celebrated on December 6th during the season of Advent. On the eve of St Nicholas, children may leave out a freshly polished shoe, with a small snack for St Nicholas and his horse. In return, the simple gesture of a small gift will be left, perhaps a crystal or
Continue Reading →1st Candle of Advent The first light of Advent is the light of stone– Stones that live in crystals, seashells, and bones.
Continue Reading →The Advent Spiral The Advent Spiral is a tradition for children in the younger grades at the Vancouver Waldorf School. The room will be darkened and filled with a mood of wonder and quiet anticipation. Cedar boughs are laid out to create a spiral with a lit candle in the centre. Interspersed along the edges of the spiral path are golden
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St John’s Tide St. John’s Tide marks the Midsummer Festival or Summer Solstice. It is the turning point of the year – the longest day and shortest night in the Northern Hemisphere. It is the mirror opposite of Christmas, or Winter Solstice. At the Summer Solstice, or St. John’s Tide, the Earth is breathing out to her fullest. We may be drawn to
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