Advent, advent, a candle burns……  This week we have begun our celebration of Advent, the waiting time, which begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas.  In our kindergarten, as in Steiner schools everywhere this time is filled with gratitude for the four kingdoms on earth which support life.  The mineral kingdom is first, and we give thanks and appreciation to the rocks from which soil comes…. we owe our existence to soil, yet so rarely consider it.

One candle is lit in the wreath, and a verse spoken;

The first light of Advent
It is the light of stones
The light that lives in crystals
In seashells and in bones

Then one by one, following the teacher’s example, the children place their gift from the mineral kingdom on the bottom of our Advent tableau.  This is done reverently, in silence.

Then we sing a song…..

One little candle lighted in the wreath;
The earth below prepares to glow (sing 3 times to here the first week)
Two little candles lighted in the wreath;
The plant lifts up a blossom cup (sing twice to here the second week)
Three little candles lighted in the wreath;
The animals run to see the sun (sing to here the third week)
Four little candles lighted ion the wreath;
The baby is born, to warm the earth, to fill the cup,
To light the sun, to lift me up. ( sing to the end fourth week)

Over the coming weeks we will honour the plant and animal kingdoms in the same way, speaking the following verses;

The second light of Advent
It is the light of plants
Plants that reach up to the sun
And in the breezes dance
The third light of Advent
It is the light of beasts
The light of hope that we may see
In greatest and in least.

In this way we build up our Advent table with contributions from all of our children, and this forms a backdrop for our kindergarten graduation “Stepping Stones” ceremony.  This year seven K6 children will graduate on Wednesday 15th December, our last day of kindergarten for the year.

Here is the final verse, you may like to celebrate this at home;

The fourth light of Advent
It is the light of humans
The light of love, the light of thought
To give and to understand.

With gratitude and warmest wishes for a wonderful holiday season to all our families.

Love from Denise, Clare and Evie