Creating Your Own Lantern Walk
In mid-November Waldorf schools across the world celebrate the Lantern Season and Martinmas. The lantern is a symbolic representation of the seasonal change towards darker days and a metaphor to remind us to shine our inner light through dark days. While the times have led RWS to cancel our school lantern walk this year, we want to bring this festival to you in another way! To celebrate the Waldorf lantern festival at home, you need a few things…
- A lantern
- Songs and verses
- An activity
- Food to share
Traditionally, Waldorf schools celebrate Martinmas and the Lantern Walk between November 11 and 14, but any time in November is perfect. There is really something magical about walking through the dark singing and holding a candle lit lantern. We hope you’ll give this a try this year!
Lantern Making:
Making a lantern is fun and there are so many to choose from! Below is a sampling of lanterns made at RWS with students and adults. YouTube is a great place to look for tutorials. Our Parents Association will hold a virtual lantern making event on Zoom on Wed, Nov 11 at 4pm and Thu, Nov 12 at 9am. Join us!
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- A paper origami lantern
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- In the making: Beeswax and balloons
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- Finished product from our 5th graders
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- A mason jar with paper design
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- Origami flower lantern
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- Tin can with holes in a festive design
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- Watercolor paintings turned into lanterns
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- Paper balloon lanterns in progress
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- Paper balloons finished
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- Finished watercolor paper and balloon lanterns
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- Finished origami paper lanterns
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- Paper balloon lantern finished
Songs & Verses
Below are some of the traditional songs that we sing at Richmond Waldorf School. We’ve also got a special recording from Ms. Megan, so you can sing along with her!
Activity
Your lantern walk can be a quiet stroll in reverent silence or a joyful procession of song and verse. It can be as short or long as you like, and the dark evening hours add an element of excitement and beauty. Walk through your backyard, your neighborhood or a nearby park; hear the crunch of leaves beneath your feet and watch the glow of your lantern pierce through the darkness.
Food to share
Following the walk, a cup of warm cider and some gingerbread are a delicious and comforting way to bring warmth and community.
Song Lyrics
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Song: Glimmer Lantern Glimmer Glimmer lantern glimmer Little stars a shimmer Over meadow, more and dale Flitter, flutter, elfin vale Pewit, pewit, Tick-a-tick-a-tick, Rou-co, rou-co. |
Glimmer lantern glimmer Little stars a shimmer Over rock, and stock and stone Wandering tripping little gnome Pewit, pewit, Tick-a-tick-a-tick, Rou-co, rou-co. |
Song: I Go Outside With My Lantern
I go outside with my lantern,
My lantern goes with me.
Above me shine the stars so bright,
Down here on earth shine we.
So shine my light in the still dark night,
La bimme, la bamme, la boom, boom-boom.
Neath heavens dome till we go home,
La bimme, la bamme, la boom, boom-boom.
Song: The Sunlight Fast is Dwindling
The sunlight fast is dwindling
My little lamp needs kindling
Its beam shines far in darkest night
Dear lantern, guard me with your light.
Song: Mi Farolito (My Lantern song in Spanish)
Yo voy con mi farolito,
Y mi farolito conmigo.
Arriba brillan estrellas,
Abajo brillamos nosotros.
Y si hace frio, nos vamos a casa
Con nuestro pequeno farol, bum bum.
Y si hace frio nos vamos a casa
Con nuestro pequeno farol, bum, bum.
Song: Sube La Llama (Raise the Flame in Spanish)
Sube la llama
Sube la llama
Mas alto
Mas alto
Ilumina
Ilumina
Nuestra vida
Nuestras almas
Song: This Little Light of Mine
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine. (3x) Let it shine, Let it shine, Let it shine. | Everywhere I go, I’m gonna let it shine. (3x) Let it shine, Let it shine, Let it shine. | Hide it under a bushel? No! I’m gonna let it shine. (3x) Let it shine, Let it shine, Let it shine. |
