The Lantern Festival – a little light we must not let go out
Our children go to a Waldorf school, where festivals that follow the rhythm of nature are celebrated throughout the year. One of the most beautiful is the lantern festival — St Martin's Day. We would very much like to share it with others too.
The story of the cloak
The lantern festival is celebrated around 11 November. It marks the story of St Martin, patron saint of beggars and outcasts, known for his gentleness and his gift for bringing warmth and light to people in need. He is best known for his kindness to a poor beggar freezing outside: Martin cut his cloak in half with his sword and gave half to the beggar. Because of this act of compassion, which gave the beggar warmth and hope, the festival is also called the festival of compassion.
A little light we must not let go out
In Waldorf schools the children make lanterns and then take them on an evening walk in the dark. The heart of the festival is becoming aware of the light that shines out from each of us. This light needs protecting — just like the little lights in our lanterns, so that they don't go out.
Autumn is a time to reflect on our inner life, to look for the inner light that will carry us through the dark of winter.
Three autumn festivals
At school this time of inner searching is marked by three festivals:
- Michaelmas (September) — the festival of courage: St Michael calls on us to face our own “dragons” bravely.
- St Martin's Day (November) — the festival of compassion for others.
- St Nicholas (December) — gifts of wisdom, reflection and looking back on the year.
These three figures are examples of strength in willing, feeling and thinking. As we head into the darkest time of the year, it becomes ever more important to kindle warmth and light in our hearts. The softly glowing lanterns give way, as the solstice approaches, to the candles of the Advent spiral, which show how our inner light must shine ever more strongly against the cold.
When nature sleeps, we must stay awake.
The lantern festival at Lunina dolina
This year we are celebrating it here for the first time: on Sunday, 15 November 2026, with a story, lantern making and a shared lantern walk at dusk, to which we also invite parents.