Midwinter

We've just crept over the midwinter mark of the 21st June, and what a spectacularly beautiful day it was - sunny, with clear skies and not a breath of wind.  The College of Teachers at our local Waldorf school had promptly changed the St John's Festival to the 21st when they saw the weather forecast, because all the rest of the week we had rain and storms.  The St John's Festival is usually held at the end of the school term, marking the darkest night and welcoming in the longer periods of sunlight from then onwards.  The teachers start the evening off with a short play (this time about the rabbit which stole the fire from the beavers).  All of us sat outside and it was magical.  Every class at school make their special lanterns in the preceding week, and now walk in a long procession with these, gathering eventually around the huge bonfire, which is lit ceremoniously by the Grade 7s.  We sing songs and drink soup with bread, which parents brought along.  It was such a wonderful event, as if we were specially chosen to glimpse a piece of paradise.  The combination of small children's faces lit with wonder as they concentrated on holding their pretty little lanterns, the starry skies of the southern hemisphere, and the sense of community from gathering around a crackling fire while sipping soup - all of this was really special.