Festivals and Events
Festivals are a fundamental element of Desert Marigold’s education program. They celebrate life and bring the community together in a richness of story, song, light, and food. The Greek meaning of the word festival is “shining day” and the Roman meaning is “fast,” which suggests holding firm to an idea. Each festival we celebrate conveys a mood, an attitude, and an experience uniquely suited to the season in which it occurs.
The cycle of festivals celebrated at DMS begins in early fall with Michaelmas on September 29th, honoring the abundance of harvest time and the courage to do right. Then comes Martinmas – also known as the Lantern Walk festival – when we light candles and gather inner resources to face the dark and cold months of winter. Winter brings the Advent Spiral Walk (EC-3rd Grade), where we celebrate the turning point in the year when the days are at their shortest and the nights their longest. At this festival we look for the light which comes from within. Spring brings the May Day festival, with beautiful flowers and dancing.
The Festival Committee works with the students and faculty to help bring these events to life. Some are completely teacher led and some require help from the community. All are important as a rich festival life is the heart of the Waldorf school.
The Waldorf Winter Faire is another cherished tradition that brings warmth, beauty, and a sense of wonder to our school community as the days grow shorter and winter approaches. Rooted in Waldorf values, the Winter Faire offers a peaceful and reverent celebration of light in the darkness. It is a child-centered event, thoughtfully designed with seasonal activities that spark imagination and joy. Beloved features include the gentle magic of the ice fishing pond, the beauty and exploration of the curriculum room, candle dipping, storytelling, and puppet plays, music—all set within a beautifully lit and decorated, festive environment. Families can enjoy the Enchanted Winter Tea Garden, a quiet and cozy space for warm drinks and sweet treats, while a curated selection of local vendors offers handcrafted gifts and seasonal goods and so much more. The Winter Faire is not merely a seasonal gathering, but a heartfelt expression of community, creativity, and the inner light we carry through the darkest time of year.
Events
The Halloween Carnival is an event held in late fall and sponsored by the high school, is not considered a festival but rather a time-honored tradition at our school. It provides a fun and spirited opportunity for students, families, and community members to come together and enjoy games, activities, and seasonal treats in a festive atmosphere.
Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) as a vibrant, community-focused festival honoring deceased loved ones, emphasizing a natural view of death as a passage into the spirit realm rather than a spooky event. Traditions include building a community ofrenda (altar), featuring food, music, marigolds, sugar skulls, papel picado, and photos of departed loved ones.
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The Rose Ceremony happens twice each year: on the first day of school and on the last day of school. The ceremony at the school’s beginning is designed for the older students in the school (8th grade and/or 12th grade) to welcome in the youngest children. Leaving kindergarten and entering first grade is an enormous shift for children.
The last day of school the ceremony marks the oldest (8th grade and/or 12th grade) leaving their realms of grades or high school and embarking on new journeys. The first grade presents these groups with roses to honor their journey and bid them farewell.
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In the autumn, at harvest season, we celebrate Michaelmas. It is the time of year to gather the harvest and our strength for the year ahead. Michaelmas is September 29 and celebrates the forces of Archangel Michael (pronounced My-ki-el’), the time-spirit of this epoch. As the seasons transition from the outer warmth of summer to the coolness of fall, we turn inward, toward ourselves and toward our community for inner warmth. The Michaelic forces imbue us with the confidence and courage to look to the spiritual world for strength and to renew the impulse to live our lives on the earth to the best of our abilities allowing us to become a true community of human beings. In the Celtic tradition, St. Michael represents the unconquered hero, fighting against evil and the powers of darkness. He is a model for valor and courage. Dragons, iron, and the color red predominate. At our school it is traditional to celebrate Michaelmas with a play.
The celebration is held as an In-School Assembly. Families are welcome to watch but seating is reserved for our students. Class teachers ask that you please not sit with your child during the event. The children must remain with their class teachers for the duration of the event. Regular class schedules resume after the assembly.
The traditional color of Michaelmas is red we encourage everyone to wear red for Michaelmas.
*Children participating in the play may be required to wear a different color scheme for the event. Grades 1-4 please watch for more information from your class teacher.
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Join us for this very peaceful festival that is walked together as a family. The community gathers for hot cider and the story of St. Martin followed by a reverent walk with handmade lanterns around the iluminaria lit path as the sun sets over the school campus.
We will gather in the front play yard next to the office building. Please talk in soft voices upon arrival, and please turn cell phones off and refrain from using them during the event as this is meant to be a reverent festival. We will begin at twilight. Lanterns should be lit upon arrival and prior to the story. The story of St. Martin will be told. You may sing or remain silent during the walk.
Children will have made lanterns in class and parents are welcomed to make their own at home. There are several ideas online for making lanterns. If you search for “Waldorf Lantern Making” you will find sites with directions on balloon, water color paper, and tin can lanterns.
Parents are responsible for bringing lanterns, candles, tea lights and matches/lighters to light the lanterns. Children will be walking with their parents, siblings and extended family members, etc. Children must be supervised by their parents at all times during the festival.
The Story of St Martin
Long ago there lived a good young man named Martin. Even as a boy, he knew that one day he would be expected to serve in the military. His father was an important officer. He desired a peaceful life outside of the military but he knew that it would be his duty to follow the life of his father. So, Martin joined the military, became an officer and eventually was assigned to garrison duty in the town of Amiens.
One bitterly cold winter evening, the young Martin rode through the gates of Amiens on his fine, proud horse. He was dressed in the regalia of his military unit: gleaming armor, a bright helmet and a beautiful white cloak, lined with lambs wool. It was nearly freezing outside, but his thick cloak kept him warm. He was hardly aware of the cold. But then, as he approached the gates of the town, he saw a poor man, a beggar, dressed with clothes so ragged that he was practically bare. The man was shaking and blue and cold, but no one reached out to help him. People would pass through the gates, looking straight ahead, so their eyes would not meet with those of the poor, desperate man.
Martin, seeing this, was overcome with compassion. He rode straight to the poor man and took off his white cloak. And with one stroke of his sword he tore the lovely mantle in two. He wrapped half of the cloak around the freezing man and the other half around his own shoulders. The people nearby watched in amazement. To see a fine military officer do such a lowly thing was a ridiculous sight to many, but others were touched deeply by the goodness that Martin showed.
That night, as Martin slept, he had a dream. A man appeared to him who looked so familiar, he wore the half of the cloak Martin had given to the poor beggar and at that moment Martin saw in the eyes of this man, the light of the Divine which we each carry within us. From this day on, Martin’s life was changed forever. He knew that he could no longer be part of the military, for his true desire was to live a life of goodness and share all he had with others.
Lantern Walk Songs
Walking with My Lantern
Walking with my lantern into the night
Chasing the Shadows away with light
Within, within, my light will never dim
Light in My Lantern, Light in My Heart
Light in my lantern, light in my heart
Light in the world, light up the dark
Oh lantern I will keep the flame
so it will not die
Shine it that the world may see
How my light does shine
Shine little lantern, light up the night
Shine in the darkness, oh wondrous light
Down With Darkness
Down with darkness up with light
Up with sunshine over night
Each of us is one small light
But together we shine bright
Go away deepest, darkest night
Go away now give way to light!
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Every December, as a celebration of the beginning of the Winter season, DMS offers the Winter Spiral Festival to represent the movement inward during the darkest time of the year. Before the children arrive, the faculty and staff prepare the spiral with evergreen boughs in the Eurythmy room. The spiral is adorned with varied treasures representing the mineral, plant and animal kingdoms. Apples are cored and into each one is placed a candle. At the center of the spiral is a single candle and, at times, an angel. During the evening, quiet music is played, creating an inward mood in the darkened room as each participant walks the in-turning spiral, carrying their own candle. Upon reaching the center, each one lights their candle, turns and places it along the spiral as they retrace their steps out. When all have completed this journey, the form of the spiral is illuminated by the candles and a moment is taken to silently observe what has been created. The candles are left burning while the participants leave reverently.
In order to honor the reverent mood of the festival, please remember to:
Speak with your child(ren) about remaining quiet throughout the entire evening.
Silence or turn off cell phones. No photos or recordings are permitted.
Arrive on time as the doors will be locked to prevent interruption.
Keep your child’s walk free from distraction, we ask that children under the age of 3 stay home.
If you remain on campus between walks, please remain by the childcare room – the playground and classrooms are off limits during this festival.
Advent Garden Song
(Child’s name) is walking now to get her/his little light.
All the stars are watching her/him by day and by night.
Now she/he has her/his little light and her/his eyes are shining bright.
Carefully she’s/he’s walking now to bring light to the path.
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The Waldorf Winter Faire is a cherished tradition that brings warmth, beauty, and a sense of wonder to our school community as the days grow shorter and winter approaches. Rooted in Waldorf values, the Winter Faire offers a peaceful and reverent celebration of light in the darkness. It is a child-centered event, thoughtfully designed with seasonal activities that spark imagination and joy. Beloved features include the gentle magic of the ice fishing pond, the hands-on exploration of the curriculum room, candle dipping, storytelling, and puppet plays—all set within a beautifully lit, festive environment. Families can enjoy the Enchanted Winter Tea Garden, a quiet and cozy space for warm drinks and sweet treats, while a curated selection of local vendors offers handcrafted gifts and seasonal goods. The Winter Faire is not merely a seasonal gathering, but a heartfelt expression of community, creativity, and the inner light we carry through the darkest time of year.
Preview our Website from 2025 https://sites.google.com/desertmarigold.org/winterfaire2025/home-general-information-resource-links
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Our school’s May Faire is an annual event and celebrated during the school day for all K-12 students. Parents are welcome to join the celebration but seating is reserved for the students as an in-school assembly.
May Day is a festival celebrated at Desert Marigold at the start of May. It is an ancient tradition of celebrating the arrival of summer. Known as Beltane in Celtic lands, and celebrated by the Romans recognizing the goddess Flora, May Day is a popular tradition. The May Pole Dance is a joyful ribbon festooned experience and the center of our May Day celebration honoring the changing of the seasons from darkness to light. The May Pole bears colorful garlands and symbolizes the tree of life and growth of spring vegetation. With the lead of the Eurythmy teacher, the children from each grade take turns doing a May Pole dance. The patterns get more complicated as the children mature. The tree of life was part of this ritual and is now represented by the Maypole.
Students should be encouraged to dress in white.
Children are welcome to wear floral crowns.
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Each year, the High School sponsors the annual Halloween Carnival.
Anyone can attend, so feel free to invite your friends, neighbors, extended family. The more the merrier! Costumes are optional, but if your student chooses to wear one, please make sure it’s appropriate for small children–meaning no blood, gore, or any scary masks.
