September 29 is the feast of St. Michael--Michaelmas.  For those who are unfamiliar with this lesser known festival, a few words:  St. Michael is the archangel who threw Lucifer (often depicted as a dragon) down out of heaven.  And Autumn, the time of dwindling light, is the time for facing dragons.  For most of us, darkness--be it night or winter--is a time when our fears (our dragons) can overwhelm us and even threaten to consume us.  It is at this time that we need to gather our courage and strengthen ourselves by carrying MIchael's sword of light (truth) into the darkness and realizing that we can face our dragons with heaven's help.  This mood we bring to the children through our festivities of this special day and season.  Michaelmas is often celebrated in similar fashion to a Harvest Festival.  Apples and wheat abound in both the food preparations and the decorations.  The Michaelmas daisy--or autumn aster--is in flower at this time and is often used on the tables.  Because of the strong theme of courage depicted in this festival, the story of St.George and  the dragon is often told or performed.  In Waldorf Schools, worldwide, students perform this play for family and friends.

The season of Michaelmas continues up until Advent and includes Halloween, All Saints' Day.  All Souls' Day, Martinmas, and Thanksgiving.

Earth is dark and Fear is lurking--

O, St. Michael, Heaven's Knight,

Go before us now and lead us--

Out of darkness, into light.

The people of Silene, in a far-off Roman province, lived in constant terror!  Every day a ferocious dragon rose out of the depths of a nearby lake and prowled around the walls of their city.  It roared and struck the walls with its great tail, and its hot breath poisoned the air and drove off the armed men who were sent to fight against it.  To keep this terrible dragon from destroying their city, the people had to feed the dragon two sheep every day.  Finally there came a time when there were no more sheep, and the city was forced to sacrifice its young men and women to the dragon.

One day young St. George, carrying his white shield with a red cross upon it, came riding toward the city.  On his way he passed by the shore of the lake where he found an innocent young maiden weeping pitifully.  She was the king's daughter, and it was now her turn to be sacrificed to the dragon.  Quickly St. George dismounted and offered to help her.  "Ride away at once!" the maiden warned him.  "Any moment the dragon will come to get me.  If you remain here it will devour you as well."  St. George refused to leave and after the princess told him the whole story, he said, "Don't be afraid, for in the name of Christ I will save you."  Just then, rearing its head out of the lake, the dragon with a terrible roar, approached the maiden.  Quickly, St. George mounted his horse, took up his sword and his lance, and rushed upon the ferocious dragon.  They fought fiercely until at last St. George struck a blow that stunned the dragon and knocked it to the ground.  St. George then called upon the pure and innocent maiden to take from around her waist her belt, woven from gold and silver threads, and to place it around the dragon's neck.

The most famous legend of St. George is the story of how he conquered the dragon.  In some versions, St. George slays the dragon.  In other versions, such as this one, he conquers it, but allows it to live.  The dragon then serves humankind after its power has been transformed.