A Reflection on Martinmas

Carrying the Light

As the days grow shorter and the golden light of autumn begins to fade, Waldorf schools around the world prepare to celebrate a festival of quiet beauty, Martinmas, or the Festival of Lanterns. At Alabama Waldorf School, this celebration marks a moment in the turning of the year, when we gather as a community to honor both the fading warmth of fall and the light that lives within each of us.

The Martinmas Story Behind the Lanterns

St. Martin of Tours shares his cloak with a beggar

This festival takes its inspiration from the story of St. Martin of Tours, a humble soldier who

is remembered for an act of simple kindness. On a cold winter’s night, Martin came upon a beggar shivering by the roadside. Moved by compassion, he cut his cloak in two and shared it with the man. That gesture, small, human, and full of warmth, has lived on for centuries as a symbol of generosity and love for one another.

In Waldorf Education, Martinmas is not a religious observance but a seasonal celebration of inner light. It reminds us that, even as the natural world begins to rest and darkness grows, each of us carries a light that can brighten another’s path.

Walking by Lantern Light

At Alabama Waldorf School, children craft their own lanterns in the weeks leading up to the walk, glowing symbols of their creativity and care. When Lantern Walk evening arrives, families gather as dusk settles. Together, we sing gentle songs and walk slowly through the dark, the soft light of many lanterns weaving a golden thread through the night.

This shared experience is both peaceful and powerful. There’s a hush that falls over the group, a reverence for the season, for the earth beneath our feet, and for the quiet courage it takes to carry light forward.

A Lesson for the Season

The Lantern Walk is more than a festival; it’s a living story about compassion, mindfulness, and community. It invites us to reflect on how we might “share our cloak,” to offer kindness in the small moments of everyday life. Whether through helping a classmate, tending the school garden, or showing patience with loved ones, each act of care is a spark that keeps our light alive.

As the year begins to tilt toward winter, may we each remember to tend that inner flame and to share its warmth wherever we can.