The Lantern Festival
As autumn’s golden hues fade into the quiet darkness of winter, we find ourselves turning inward, seeking the warmth and radiance that live within and around us. Across the world, communities and cultures have long honored this turning of the year with celebrations of light — each one a reflection of humanity’s shared longing for hope, peace, and renewal.
In the Hindu faith, families gather for Diwali, the festival of lights, where tiny lamps called diyas flicker in windows and doorways, symbolizing the triumph of light over darkness and good over adversity. In Lyon, France, one of the oldest light festivals in the world, the Fête des Lumières fills the city with glowing art and color, transforming streets and buildings into a radiant tapestry of gratitude and community. In Chiang Mai, Thailand, during Loy Krathong, thousands of lanterns rise into the night sky while delicate offerings drift upon the water — gestures of release, forgiveness, and new beginnings. And in Sydney, Australia, the Vivid Festival turns the harbor into a celebration of creativity and light, illuminating the night with imagination and wonder as the southern hemisphere prepares to welcome winter.
Whether light shines as a symbol of hope, peace, or renewal, the thread remains constant across cultures — it is the light of the human spirit, ever seeking connection, courage, and meaning amid the turning seasons.
At the heart of our own lantern tradition lives an old story from France — the Legend of Saint Martin, carried through centuries on the wings of kindness. As a young man, Martin once passed beneath the archway of the city of Amiens and discovered a poor beggar huddled there, trembling from the cold. The man was scarcely clothed, his body shaking with chill. Moved by compassion, Martin removed his own cloak, tore it in two, and wrapped one half around the man to warm him. That night, Martin dreamt of an angel wearing the same piece of his cloak, and through this vision, his devotion to humanity was kindled ever more deeply.
Through the years, Martin became known for his humility and gentleness — a bringer of warmth and light to those in need, and a patron saint of beggars and outcasts. Though his story is born of a distant time, its flame still lives in the human heart, reminding us that even the simplest gesture of generosity can shine far beyond itself, touching lives we may never see.
As we journey together into the darkening months, the story of Saint Martin calls us to kindle light within our own hearts. His torn cloak becomes a living symbol — an invitation to share warmth, compassion, and love with those around us. The softly glowing lanterns of Martinmas will soon give way to the candles of the Advent Spiral, guiding us nearer to the Solstice and reminding us that as nature grows still and the outer world sleeps, our inner light must shine all the brighter.
It is in this spirit that our school community gathers for the Lantern Walk. As dusk deepens and the forest grows quiet, children and families set forth together, their lanterns glowing softly along the darkened path. The gentle light we carry is more than a flame — it is a reflection of the warmth we nurture within, the light of compassion, courage, and love that guides us through the lengthening nights of the year.
And in the hush of the woods, beneath bare branches and the wide, listening sky, we are reminded that the true light lives not only in the lanterns we hold, but also in our hearts — a light to share, to tend, and to carry with us through the dark winter days ahead.
