Michaelmas is celebrated in Waldorf education throughout the world at the turn of the fall equinox as a festival of courage. This annual Fall festival is celebrated with a play, songs, games of courage and strength, and old fashioned activities. We celebrate Michaelmas to find hope and honor the strength of human will, courage and initiative. In the traditions of Judaism, Islam and Christianity, the archangel Michael is a symbolic leader of the force of good over evil and courage over cowardice. The celebration of Michaelmas, which is rooted in harvest festival traditions from the Middle Ages, teaches the importance of overcoming fear and darkness and strengthening resolve for winter.

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While we are not as connected to the cycle of nature as we once were, each of us, and each student, must face their own difficulties and dark times in life, both internal and external. Therefore, we celebrate Michaelmas…