As far as I'm concerned, after the school Advent festival is over, that's me done for Christmas.
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| Come on, step right up and own a snowman |
The fever dream that is the Advent Festival and all the attendant activity that surrounds it leading both up to it and watching it depart. For instance, now that Christmas is earlier it is endless the run up to the entire thing. Thankfully though we seem to reach blow out point early - i.e. by the second week of December and everything after that is small beans.
A friend recently shared this photo...
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| Winter solstice |
And followed it by this write up...
The winter solstice time is no longer celebrated as it once was, with the understanding that this is a period of descent and rest, of going within our homes, within ourselves and taking in all that we have been through, all that has passed in this full year which is coming to a close... like nature and the animal kingdom around us, this time of hibernation is so necessary for our tired limbs, our burdened minds.
Our modern culture teaches avoidance at a max at this time; alcohol, lights, shopping, overworking, over spending, comfort food and consumerism.
And yet the natural tug to go inwards as nearly all creatures are doing is strong and the weather so bitter that people are left feeling that winter is hard, because for those of us without burning fires and big festive families, it can be lonely and isolating. Whereas in actual fact winter is kind, she points us in her quiet soft way towards our inner self, towards this annual time of peace and reflection, embracing the darkness and forgiving, accepting and loving embracing goodbye the past year.
"Winter takes away the distractions, the buzz, and presents us with the perfect time to rest and withdraw into a womb like love, bringing fire & light to our hearth".
.. and then, just around the corner the new year will begin again, and like a seed planted deep in the earth, we will all rise with renewed energy once again to dance in the sunlight
Life is a gift 
<3 span=""> a Happy winter to you all...
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| It kinda doesn't get better than this |
So, this really resonates with me. It is entirely counterintuitive what we have done with Christmas - the solstice. It was, is, supposed to be a time of descent. Of gentle and quiet celebrations, not a non stop hangover. Of course, I don't do non stop hangovers, but the constant need to be doing something is also an affliction in our culture. People out Heroding Herod when they celebrate the solstice. It makes me want to barf. And the entire thing is driven by consumer culture. The Christmas ads, there is one particular one by Lidl or Asda, but it has an entire Christmas party skiing down a snow covered slope. I don't know how children cope with the disappointment, that GULF between what they appear to be promised by popular culture and the reality of their lives. This is why I am so grateful for the school's Advent festival. We can celebrate it by being with each other. Yes, there is money and food and lots of hyperness involved, but it is the vehicle for a true celebration of the company of good friends.
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| Yeah we do money.... |
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| Organic beef burgers grilled in the winter's afternoon |
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Three familiar figures trading
Sigi, John and Oisin |
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| The kids are the best part |
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I asked Aurelia what has been the highlight so far...
and she said, the Advent Festival
Oh yeah |
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Class Seven boys hanging out at the Dalzells stall
By the time the festival closed, the tent had become a makeshift youth club
and better yet all the kindling had sold |
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Things can be old but well cared for
A bit of a Velveteen Rabbit effect |
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| It does not get lovelier than this |
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| We also had vegan burgers |
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| Handmade crafts |
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| A place where everyone can be together |
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Our school yesterday
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Yesterday I was asked about why I became a Steiner teacher and I gormlessly blabbed on about things like curriculum, and Main Lesson, which is all true, but the truth is that I am a Steiner teacher because I believe in having a future and the future can be best served by ensuring that the children who will look after the future are educated FROM the future - i.e. they aren't educated by the past, and being tested by people and information in the past. The present mainstream education system, no harm to it, is like driving by solely looking in your rear view mirror. Children know it and it is time we knew it too. Steiner education prepares children not just for a future by for a future in which they are a part of and it is done by emphasising the values of love and freedom. People think that freedom means doing whatever the hell you like. That is not really freedom. Freedom is being able to be balanced. The best embodiment of freedom is learning how to walk. When we are able to walk we are freed from the forces of gravity - we learn balance and are then able to be mobile. We then learn to make choices, not be tied into what someone else thinks of you. To have the courage and the will, and the warmth, to love the world and others in the world with a full heart. Well, at least I'll know what to say the next time.
OK, i think I am going to have to go home and clean our house. It is a total mess. And I have to book the car's MOT as well. So adulting to do.
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