Martinmas -- Lantern Walk

This evening, the kids and I participated in the Corvallis Waldorf School's annual Lantern Walk in celebration of Martinmas. The authors of the book “All Year Round” write: “The traditional way of celebrating Martinmas is with lantern walks or processions, accompanied by singing. St. Martin recognized the divine spark in the poor man of Amiens, and gave it the protection of his own cloak. When we make a paper lantern, we, too, may feel that we are giving protection to our own little “flame” that was beginning to shine at Michaelmas, so that we may carry it safely through the dark world. It may only be a small and fragile light- but every light brings relief to the darkness.” As daylight savings is upon us, keeping light with us seems so relevant in the dark nights, and participating in the Lantern Walk is a meaningful way to embrace that with the children. The walk was held at a nearby park, and the children brought their lanterns they had made at school, most with jars and autumn leaves. There was singing as we walked around the pond, and the procession of lanterns in the darkness was lovely. The sweetest song, sung by even the youngest, goes like this: "I'm walking with my lantern, my lantern walks with me, above the stars are shining, below shines my lantern for me, my light grows dim, I must go in, la bimba, la bamba, la bu."