.: These are the lanterns that were created many years ago and are used each year! :.
As a Waldorf-inspired family we look forward to celebrating a lantern walk in honor of the story of Saint Martin who let his inner light shine one cold November day...
Martinmas Day is a time to celebrate our own inner light. It gives many an opportunity to honor that light in preparation for the coming season of winter's darkness.
.: We created a new style of lantern for this year's lantern walk! :.
Each year on November eleventh my family and I take a lantern walk. Before our departure with our lanterns into the night we take a few moments to read the story of Saint Martin. This story is adapted from a version by By Cerdiwen Anya Coit
"One bitterly cold winter evening, the young Martin rode through the gates of Amiens on his fine, proud horse. He was dressed in the regalia of his military unit: gleaming armor, a bright helmet and a beautiful white cloak, lined with lambs wool. It was nearly freezing outside, but his thick cloak kept him warm. He was hardly aware of the cold.
But then, as he approached the gates of the town, he saw a poor man, a beggar, dressed with clothes so ragged that he was practically bare. The man was shaking and blue with cold, but no one reached out to help him. People would pass through the gates, looking straight ahead, so their eyes would not meet with those of the poor, desperate man.
Martin, seeing this, was overcome with compassion. He rode straight to poor man and took off his white cloak. And with one stroke of his sword he tore the lovely mantle in two. He wrapped half of the cloak around the freezing man and the other half around his own shoulders.
The people nearby watched in amazement. To see a fine military officer do such a lowly thing was a ridiculous site to many, but others were touched by the goodness that Martin showed.
That night, as Martin slept, he had a dream. A man appear to him who looked so familiar, and he was wearing the half of the cloak Martin had given to the poor beggar. And then, Martin saw in the eyes of this man, the light of the Divine which we each carry within us."
.: We mixed wheat paste to adhere the tissue paper to the balloons :.
.: The youngest one uses the wheat paste to layer strips of colorful tissue paper :.
We enjoy homemade wheat paste to use for adhering the tissue paper to the balloon.
Wheat Paste Recipe:
Prepare 1 cup of hot water. Make a thin mixture of 3 tablespoons of white flour and cold water (just enough to wet all the flour and make it liquid enough to pour). Pour the cold mixture into the hot water while stirring constantly. Bring to a boil. When it thickens, allow to cool. Use as glue.
.: Warm colors were used to create our lanterns! :.
Tear long strips of colorful tissue paper. This year we adopted warm colors for our lanterns.
For the base of each lantern we used white coffee filters and pasted them on the bottom of the balloon until we reached halfway up the balloon. We let this dry on the clothesline until the next day.
.: We began by pasting white coffee filters to form the base of the lantern :.
You can notice in this photo the dried white base of the lantern. We then took our colorful strips of tissue paper and pasted them over it. This gives us a nice sturdy lantern, while the white underneath the color allows the light of the lantern to freely shine through.
.: Beautiful colors illuminated by the sun, soon to be lit by candlelight! :.
.: My eldest son enjoyed this time creating his beautiful lantern! :.
Continue wrapping the already dried base with colorful lengths of tissue paper until it is as decorated as you wish for it to be.
During our lantern walk we spend our time singing 'This Little Light Of Mine'
"This Little Light Of Mine
I'm gonna let it shine.
This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine.
This little liht of mine, I'm gonna let it shine. let it shine, let it shine, let it shine."
There is a very sweet version available for listening to by Elizabeth Mitchell.
.: Using up the last of the homemade wheat paste. When it dries it leaves behind lovely little flecks on the lanterns:.
.: Almost done! :.
.: Each one of the three children enjoyed creating lanterns and eagerly anticipate the lantern walk! :.
Once you are done decorating your lanterns, find an undisturbed place to let them dry! We were lucky to enjoy a warm day back in October and let ours dry on the clothesline.
.: When the lanterns were fully dry they fell away from the balloon to the ground to let us know they were done! :.
Enjoy this time of togetherness with your family as you step out into the darkness of the evening with your lanterns and hearts shining so bright! May the spirit of compassion be held close to you while your song of light warms you into the dark winter months ahead.
.: My youngest son holding a finished lantern. The illuminated lanterns are gorgeous! :.
We like to end the evening gathered together at the table for a warm homemade desert and tea!
.: May you shine your light so brightly for all to see! :.
