homeschooling moon children

We are in the depths of Fall. Winter is approaching. Yet, we still have some autumn celebrations to bring us warmth into December. November 11th is known as Martinmas Day in Waldorf Education. What is Martinmas? Well keep reading and I hope this inspires you to start this tradition!

Martinmas also known as the “Compassion Festival” is a festival is to honor St. Martin of Tours. The story of St Martin honors him and has been celebrated since 391 AD. St. Martin in the Patron saint of beggars, tailors, wool weavers, soldiers and outcasts. He is known for his gentleness and his ability to bring warmth and light to those in need.

St. Martin of Tours Story.
“St Martin lived between around AD 316 and 397. He began his career as a Roman soldier, but one day he saw a freezing beggar in the street. He cut his cloak in two, and gave half to the beggar. Afterwards he had a dream that the beggar was actually Jesus, and it changed his life.”

A book we read every year is “Snow on Martinmas” By Heather Sleightholm, you can get it here. This book shares the story of St. Martin and has great illustrations. Highly recommend!

As we take our journey into the darker days we remember the story of St. Martin and think, we bring the warmth and light in our own spirits. So to remember the light of St. Martin we make a Lantern. As a family we go on an evening walk and we listen to the songs. Or recite them together in the cold. The best part is coming inside to eat horseshoe shaped cookies and sip on hot cider.

This festival is a great tradition to be celebrated on November 11th. I was talking to a friend and told her it’s okay if its celebrated on another day. I understand life happens, and we can’t make everything happen as planned. So if you feel inspired make the lantern, go on a walk with your kids and enjoy!

This year we made a “Dodecahedron Star Lanterns” and “Apple, Cranberry, Orange Cider”.

Dodecahedron Star Lanterns
Note: this lantern is done in waves so plan to do this a 1-2 days ahead.

Supplies:
Watercolor Paper
Watercolor Paint
Ruler
Pencil
Scissors
Glue
Hole Puncher
Yarn
Stick
Battery Tea-Lights

Directions:
1. Paint your watercolor paper in any colors you like. We painted ours in shades of yellow, orange and red. We used the wet on wet method as it created beautiful blends.
2. Take a Pentagon Pattern 2″ sides to make 11 pentagons. (You will need 2 sheets of 8.5×11 watercolor paintings) They tricky part is cutting these out and making sure they are precise as possible.
3. Once all are cut out use your ruler to find the midpoint (unpainted side) and mark all 5 sides. These little marks will be our folding guidelines.
4. Take the point of the pentagon and fold up towards the middle. You will use your ruler to help crease the paper.
5. Once all our folded, find your favorite to be the base. The flaps will be on the outside. Glue and take 5 Pentagons and glue one side to the inside of the base.
6. After you glue the first pentagon, You will place the next pentagon under the previous. (Your previous pentagon will overlap the new one)
7. Now that this is finished we will work on the top layer. The top is where it gets tricky, you will now use your first layer and make it the outer layer.
8. You will glue the pentagon to make the top layer under the first layer at the bottom.
9. Make sure that the pentagon will go over the next one and continue till you get to the end.
10. The top layer will have a point and you will glue and fold it down.
11. Make a hole on each side to attach your yarn. (You may finger knit this part to incorporate more handwork)
12. Attach to the stick, drop in your Battery Operated Tealight and get ready for your walk!

Apple, Cranberry, Orange Cider Recipe.
makes approx 4 cups.

Ingredients:
3 Cups of Apple Cider
2 Cups of Orange Juice
4 oz of Cranberry Juice
1.4 cup of Honey
3 Cinnamon Sticks and add a splash of cinnamon

Directions:
Place all ingredients into a pot. Cover and simmer for about 30-45 minutes. When it is ready you will smell your entire house smelling warm. Be sure to serve promptly but warning it can be very hot. We take our time talking about our walk and the songs we heard as our cider cools.

xx,
Rosemary