From Darkness into Light

Celebrate! Copyright Karen Lehmann Montessori Methods 2007 

Even in the darkest days of winter…

…we can feel the promise of light.  From the most ancient civilizations to today, humankind has celebrated this promise in varied and treasured ways. Each tradition, each spiritual path, has a wonderful and singular way of marking what we often call the “holiday season”.

Though it may not be the “biggest holiday of the year” in all traditions, as it is in Christianity, there is nonetheless some sort of celebration during this time of the winter solstice. Some celebrate birth, others victory over unbeatable odds, others the strength and refuge to be found in community or from within ourselves…  Years ago, in one of my very first classrooms, I struggled to find a commonality among the many “holiday” traditions celebrated by the diverse children in my care and their families. The most consistent “theme” I could find among all the different celebrations was the inclusion, in some form or another, of light. The light of a candle or a lantern; starlight, light seen even in blindness – the traditions vary, but the flame always burns. So, during this time of the winter solstice, when the shortest and darkest days of the year lead inexorably to the shortest day of all, I always remember that it is this very darkness that gives birth to the light. Somehow, during this dark passage, we as human beings have always found ways to come together in love and charity; to celebrate our relation to one another and to that which we hold sacred. With birth and light in mind, I give you one of the most wonderful of all Montessori traditions: the  Celebration of Life

Enjoy!

 

The Celebration of Life (Birthday Ritual)

Materials Required:

1 large candle, matches; 1 globe representing the earth, small enough for the child to carry easily; 12 cards 2″x10″ labeled with months of the year; photos of the birthday child (one for each year including the birth year. These are best mounted on a “time-line” type format, with a brief sentence about the child at that age to correspond with each year’s photo). Beautiful candleholder or flame-proof base reminiscent of the sun.

Preparation:

Child knows that s/he is celebrating a birthday. Rules related to safety, matches and candle flames have been reviewed.

Direct Aims:

To share a special event and honor the birthday child. To prepare for the study of history (personal timeline) and the study of astronomy (planets, orbits); introduction to Cosmic Education.

Presentation:

1. Invite all children and adults present to form a circle sitting on the floor.
2. Place the candle in the center of the circle and, starting with the present month, place the month-cards in order like the spokes of a wheel, around the candle. Place the earth-globe in front of the birthday child.
3. Say: “This candle represents our sun, and the globe represents our earth. The sun is hot, so I’ll light the candle”. (If necessary, remind the children to stay a safe distance away from the candle flame.)
4. Light the candle, with reverence, in a ceremonial way.
5. Ask the birthday child to stand, holding the globe. Explain that when our earth orbits the sun once, that equals one year of our time. Now tell the story of the child’s birth:

                        “On the first day of December, in the year 2003, in the city of  Albuquerque, in the state of New Mexico, in the country of the United States of                 America, on the continent of North America, on the planet we call earth: a miracle happened!! A baby was born – and it was our Alexandra.”

         (Show the first photo.)

                        “When Alex was born, this is how she looked – she was a little baby.”

6. Continue the story:

                        “The months went by and Alex grew older – .”

Show the child how to hold the globe and walk around the sun/candle one time, to represent one year.* (There is a song for this, see the note at bottom of page.)

“We live on the earth and the earth goes around the sun. When Alex had gone around the sun one time, she was one year old. This is how she looked when she was one.” (Show photo, etc.)

7. Continue to invite the child to walk around the sun, while the group sings the song ; or you say, “The months went by and Alex grew older…”.  After each “year”, display the corresponding photo until you have reached the child’s current age.

        “Now Alex has been around the sun 4 times and she is 4 years old. This month is the same month as the one on our calendar. Let’s sing ‘Happy Birthday’”!

        After the song, ask the child to make a wish and blow out the candle.

8. Optional: the child may designate “hugs or handshakes” and then go around the circle and receive a special birthday wish from each of the other children – but beware; this can be a real tear-jerker for the adults!!

*to the tune of The Farmer in the Dell

“The earth goes around the sun,

The earth goes around the sun;

It takes twelve months to get the job done,

The earth goes around the sun.”