In Waldorf schools, the Rose Ceremony is an important event celebrating the child's bridging from Kindergarten to First Grade. In our homeschooling, we have chosen to use this ceremony as our annual welcoming of the children to a new year of learning.
This year, we did it together with our close friends. We had two third graders, two kindergarteners, and two one year olds in attendance for our ceremony. We encouraged the children to dress fancy, wear capes and crowns, and to treat this ceremony with reverence.
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Opening Verse
Light of knowledge now ignites
For all of us who are here tonight
Allow your light to shine so bright
And stay with us deep in our hearts
Today, tomorrow, and for all the days to come
By Mariza Brussolo
My friend made these beautiful apple roses for the children to eat after the ceremony. (and after a swim in the pool!) They kids loved them!
Light of knowledge now ignites
For all of us who are here tonight
Allow your light to shine so bright
And stay with us deep in our hearts
Today, tomorrow, and for all the days to come
By Mariza Brussolo
We followed the opening verse with our story, which I adapted to fit the family dynamics of both families. I do not know who wrote the original story, but I have seen one version written several places. Here is my adapted version.
Once upon a time, on a day not unlike today, in a place not unlike this place, there lived a little girl, a little boy, a baby, and their mother. They were very happy sharing beautiful times together. One day, the children and their mother went for a walk. Now, they had taken this walk before, many, many times, and the children knew the way well. They loved to run a little ahead, dawdle a bit behind, and stroll right beside their mother as they walked the familiar path.
On this day, however, the children noticed a different path, one that they had glimpsed before but had not yet walked down. "Mother, can we go this way today?" the son asked, and her mother agreed. They walked through the woods and began to climb to the top of a hill, walking hand in hand. The children were excited to begin a new journey with her mother, discovering and exploring this brand new path together.
As the mother and children neared the top of the hill, they began to slow just a bit. At the top of the hill, they looked down upon a beautiful valley, full of the most wondrous sights they had ever seen. The children knew that the answer to every question they could ever ask must be down in that valley, and they wanted nothing more than to go down into the valley and explore and learn. They began to walk forward, still holding onto their mother's hand. A shimmering rainbow appeared before the children, and they and their mother passed through it, feeling the warmth of red, the coolness of blue, and the open embrace of gold.
As the children and their mother began to move down the hill, they came across a beautiful bridge surrounded by flowers. The children wanted with all of their hearts to cross the bridge, so the mother guided them and just before the children were going to cross the bridge, the mother whispered something into the older children’s ears.
The children crossed the bridge and even though they were by themselves, they wasn’t afraid because her mother and baby were waiting for her on the other side.
After crossing the bridge, the mother and the children took the joy of their journey with them as they continued to explore the world together.
And, as far as I know, the children and their mother are still together today.
On this day, however, the children noticed a different path, one that they had glimpsed before but had not yet walked down. "Mother, can we go this way today?" the son asked, and her mother agreed. They walked through the woods and began to climb to the top of a hill, walking hand in hand. The children were excited to begin a new journey with her mother, discovering and exploring this brand new path together.
As the mother and children neared the top of the hill, they began to slow just a bit. At the top of the hill, they looked down upon a beautiful valley, full of the most wondrous sights they had ever seen. The children knew that the answer to every question they could ever ask must be down in that valley, and they wanted nothing more than to go down into the valley and explore and learn. They began to walk forward, still holding onto their mother's hand. A shimmering rainbow appeared before the children, and they and their mother passed through it, feeling the warmth of red, the coolness of blue, and the open embrace of gold.
As the children and their mother began to move down the hill, they came across a beautiful bridge surrounded by flowers. The children wanted with all of their hearts to cross the bridge, so the mother guided them and just before the children were going to cross the bridge, the mother whispered something into the older children’s ears.
The children crossed the bridge and even though they were by themselves, they wasn’t afraid because her mother and baby were waiting for her on the other side.
After crossing the bridge, the mother and the children took the joy of their journey with them as they continued to explore the world together.
And, as far as I know, the children and their mother are still together today.
After our story, we used our favorite closing verse.
I can turn myself and turn myself,
or curl up when I will.
I can stand on tip-toe high,
or hold myself quite still.
Before having each child cross the bridge, the child's mama wispered a secret in their ear. The mama then crossed the bridge, and waited with the candles for their child to cross the bridge. (The bridge is made of three rocker boards.) The mama and child then lit a candle together with the main candle, and then the mama presented the child with a rose and a hug.
It was such a beautiful ceremony, and my children have told me many times since how excited they are for our year to come.
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