Festivals and Celebrations
Festivals and seasonal celebrations serve as milestones of the passing year. Through our festival life at Bayou Village School we build and strengthen community, establish a yearly rhythm for the children, and nourish our souls by sharing stories, food, songs and activities linked to the seasons.
In addition to the community-wide festivals listed here, teachers celebrate other festivals in the classroom, including those connected to the cultures being studied or the religious traditions of the students in the class.
In addition to the community-wide festivals listed here, teachers celebrate other festivals in the classroom, including those connected to the cultures being studied or the religious traditions of the students in the class.
Michaelmas
The festival of Michaelmas occurs on September 29th and is a traditional Celtic holiday associated with the Autumn Equinox. The festival is named for St. Michael, known as the protector of humanity, who inspires qualities of courage, initiative and steadfastness. While avoiding the religious tones of Michaelmas, our school utilize this allegory of good versus evil to incite courage and inner strength in the students. It is especially useful in the fall, in preparation for school work and the upcoming academic year.
At Bayou Village the Grades children perform a play about St. Michael, the younger children create beautiful crowns to wear and the classes bake dragon bread to share with their peers, teachers and family. The celebration ends with a pot luck lunch provided by the families of the children.
At Bayou Village the Grades children perform a play about St. Michael, the younger children create beautiful crowns to wear and the classes bake dragon bread to share with their peers, teachers and family. The celebration ends with a pot luck lunch provided by the families of the children.
Fall Festival
Our Fall Festival is a joyful community celebration typically held at the end of October to welcome the changing of the season into Autumn. The teachers plan and design the festival to create a Fall atmosphere that is playful, magical, whimsical and other worldly.
The children dress up in costumes if they wish, create crafts, and the community holds a potluck lunch. For photographs from our 2014 Fall Festival click here.
The children dress up in costumes if they wish, create crafts, and the community holds a potluck lunch. For photographs from our 2014 Fall Festival click here.
Martinmas Lantern Walk
Martinmas Lantern Walks are celebrated by children throughout Europe and in Waldorf Schools worldwide. November 11th is Martinmas, a very old European festival of Christian origin.
St.Martin of Tours (CE 316–397) is said to have met a poor beggar freezing in the cold. Drawing his sword, Martin cut his warm cloak in half so they could each share in its warmth. Many cultures and religions at this time of year celebrate similar themes of caring for others and carrying the light into the darkness.
Families at Bayou Village gather in the chill of the Autumn air to celebrate Martinmas. The children work at school on creating lanterns to carry during this special night. As a time of reverence, families gather for warm soup, bread made by the children and hot apple cider at a local park. Once night falls, we light our lanterns and start our walk around the neighborhood. We sing songs and carry our light into the darkness.
St.Martin of Tours (CE 316–397) is said to have met a poor beggar freezing in the cold. Drawing his sword, Martin cut his warm cloak in half so they could each share in its warmth. Many cultures and religions at this time of year celebrate similar themes of caring for others and carrying the light into the darkness.
Families at Bayou Village gather in the chill of the Autumn air to celebrate Martinmas. The children work at school on creating lanterns to carry during this special night. As a time of reverence, families gather for warm soup, bread made by the children and hot apple cider at a local park. Once night falls, we light our lanterns and start our walk around the neighborhood. We sing songs and carry our light into the darkness.
Winter Faire
Winter Faire at Bayou Village School is a time to welcome the crisp of the cold season, leading us into Advent. At this community festival children enjoy the magic of The Crystal Cookie Cave and participate in seasonal crafts and games. Families enjoy puppet shows and King Winter makes an appearance! Also we enjoy holiday music performed by the grades children. Furthermore there are opportunities to purchase crafts from local artists and to bid on items in a silent auction.
May Day
We celebrate the spring season with a lively community May Day Celebration filled with song and dance. Our traditional maypole is decorated with brightly colored ribbons and flowers. Families and friends gather for a picnic lunch and flower crown making, followed by maypole dancing and singing, live music performances, games, and delicious, homemade treats.