Michaelmas: Time of New Beginnings

By: Darcie Steeves, 7th Grade Teacher 2015-16

 

“As one of the English Quarter Days, Michaelmas has long been a time of new beginnings, when contracts were renewed between landlord and tenant, between employer and employee.  In the past, hiring fairs were held at this time, where farm laborers and domestic servants offered themselves for work . . . . So, ‘taking up a new task’ has long been a theme for this season, and the task Michael offered us all when he cast the great dragon into the earth, can become very real in our lives whenever we wish ta take a new step on our inner journey – to raise ourselves a little above our nature.”  

                                                                                                                            — Ann Druitt in All Year Round

Welcome to Michaelmas week!  Oh me, oh my, a dragon I spy – or shall I say many dragons – in the forms of drumming rehearsals, Michaelmas banners, an obstacle course challenge, and more.  Michaelmas is a time of great energy, courage, and forward motion, which is always palpable at school during this fun festival week.  I hope you find the snippet above regarding the history of Michaelmas as interesting as I did when I discovered it today in my morning research.  In addition to the pageant and festival on Friday, October 3rd at Fair Oaks Park at 1:30 pm (remember to wear red!), the seventh graders will participate in an obstacle course on Wednesday created by their friends, the eighth graders.

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