Celebration of Festivals

The teaching of festivals and celebrations is seen as important within Steiner Education as it promotes understanding and tolerance towards other cultures and beliefs, and also helps the pupils to establish continuity throughout the year. It gives structure to their lives. The teachers usually aim to make the celebrations "a complete artistic experience" (Nicol (2007); p.49).

These experiences will consider "history, food, costumes, music, mood, colour, stories and puppet play" and all artefacts that are important to each celebration (Nicol (2007); p.49). They will be a full experience using every sense from taste to touch.

Each seasonal celebration teaches separate messages such as Harvest spreading the gesture of empathy. Multicultural occasions such as Diwali spread the message of tolerance, acceptance and equality in society. These kinds of occasions can call for the parents involvement if the teacher has not had a personal experience with that occasion themselves.

These celebrations will be a huge experience for the pupils and surround their education. It will affect all aspects of who they are and create a well-rounded individual who would be a great influence for society. (Early learning HQ (2014) Celebrations and Festivals [Online]. [Available at: http://www.earlylearninghq.org.uk/celebrations-festivals/ ] [Accessed: 9th February 2014].