Some of the reoccurring festivals we celebrate as a community each year:
Michaelmas – September
Michaelmas is a not-too-often recognized holiday. Though, every year when this season greets me I feel glad to celebrate it. I feel a real need to buckle down and get to work on things–both with outward projects and my inner self. I look forward to working hard in the garden, to setting things aright as the days veer toward Winter. I also feel a desire to go inward–to inspect and cultivate the less lovely parts of myself. I cherish the gift of courage that Michael brings, so that I can look inward with warmth and honesty.
Michaelmas celebrates archangel Mi-cha-el, whose name means “Who is like God?”. Of course, what is Godly can have numerous meanings to us all, and we never explain religion to the little children. Rather, we tell stories and engage in activities that model the Michaelic gestures of bravery and goodness. We garden, build, and work on our relationships. All of these activities require bravery and goodwill! We also tell a story of Michael as a noble knight who tames, rather than slays, a dragon.
Now, perhaps more than ever, I think we can all agree that goodness and courage are needed in our world. My sincere hope is that we can instill enough of these qualities in our children to go boldly and joyfully into their futures. I look forward to celebrating Michaelmas with you.
Martinmas – November
Martinmas is a festival named for Saint Martin from France. A kind and humble fellow, Saint Martin led a vigorous life of faith and service to others. It is recorded that he would make perilous journeys, miles long, to bring help to those in need. The legend of St. Martin tells of a great moment in Martin’s life when, as he served in the Roman army, he came upon a cold, half-clothed beggar lying outside the walls of Amiens. On an impulse, Martin pulled out his sword and used it to cut his own thick cloak in half, covering the beggar man with one half. Commonly, people light lanterns in his remembrance, symbolizing how he brought warmth and light to those who were struggling.
Our global history is filled with examples of people like Martin, driven by their own faith & belief in the goodness of people, who spend their whole lives in service of others. It seems sensible that we celebrate these qualities of humanity at this time of year, as the dark is becoming more prevalent day by day. We let our individual lights that we kindle at Martinmas grow ever brighter as we move into the season of gratitude and giving.
Advent Spiral – December
Perhaps my favorite festival, the beautiful and magical Advent Spiral. At this festival we celebrate the inner light that each of us bring to the world. Advent means “to arrive”, and this holiday specifically honors the light that Christ brought to humanity. If that does not resonate with your personal beliefs, then you may wish to acknowledge the many cultures who commemorate humanity’s perseverance through the darkest part of the year. Hanukkah, Santa Lucia, and Diwali, for example, also mark the triumph of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, hope over despair. It is such a treasure to share a meditative moment, with attention focused on our present blessings and hope for our future.
