Martinmas

On Wednesday, the early childhood classes at Rhayn's school celebrated Martinmas. All week they had been making paper lanterns. Rhayn's class made them from watercolors they had painted previously while the other classes made them from balloons covered in paper.

We met at the school towards dark, had apple cider and snacks. The preschool teacher told a story, which I didn't hear much of while chasing a little Gwennie all over.

The children gathered around their teachers who helped them get their lanterns lit.
After the lanterns were lit, the children, adults and teachers formed a line and sang

"Walking with my lantern into the night.
Chasing the shadows away with light.
With in. With in. My light will never dim."

It was rather lovely, as we walked around the pond by the kindergarten classrooms. The glow of the lanterns cast light in the water. There were also candles lit along our path, to guide us.

As we headed back to the gathering point, everyone sat and the same teacher told more story, and prompted us to give an old coat/jacket (as the describe on this Catholic website) or some food items.

I wish I could have known more about the festival beforehand. I mean, her school celebrates all of these interesting old festivals and as you go along, you get more accustomed to them, they even pass out literature about it all. It is just a lot to take in, a lot to try to understand.