In the middle of the 19th century, a professor from Vienna, Karl Julius Schröer, who was researching folklore and regional traditions, discovered the Oberufer Plays. He was charmed and impressed by them and returned a few years later to write down as much as he could. Years later this professor became the teacher and revered friend of Rudolf Steiner.

Towards the end of the 19th century Professor Schröer spoke to Steiner about these plays. His enthusiasm and concern about the possible loss of such precious folkways touched Steiner, who quickly realized their beauty and proceeded to bring order to the sketchy script and the music. In 1910 the first revived performance took place in Berlin, Germany.

From then on, these plays have become part of the Christmas time tradition for many Waldorf schools all over the world. They were first translated by Cecil Harwood, from England, who tried to keep intact the medieval way of speaking-the simple beauty of expression. 

At the sending of this newsletter we are in the third week of Advent, - the four weeks preceding December 25; Chanukah began on Tuesday evening as well as Las Posadas and in just a few days we will reach the winter Solstice - the longest night of the year. All of these occasions may be celebrated by different adherents, however there is also a common theme which is shared by many festivals or holidays at this time of year- that of the light. The light which was so brilliant in the heights of summer has slowly waned through autumn and as it is outwardly lessening we are called to carry it inwardly.

Here at school, these December days are marked by the tradition of the first Monday assembly; the High School and the Grades have separate celebrations while this season is celebrated individually with the walking of the spiral in each of the Early Childhood classes. In the High School, the assemblies have been feted with offerings from the different performing arts groups and will be culminated with a Las Posadas festivity on the last Friday of term. To hear their musical gifts, to see the reverence of the Eurythmists holding lit candles while they preformed a piece by Bach imbued Meadows Hall and all therein with the spirit of the season.

In the grades assemblies, each Monday morning throughout December,  different classes have shared poems, songs or other musical choices and in this last week, the teachers offered the gift of a Eurythmy performance. To begin the week with this gathering together in a darkened room, which is slowly enlightened by each class candle, brings a mood of introspection, and as each class filed out led by their teacher's lantern, there was indeed the sense that the inner light was being rayed outward.

These traditions are part of the fabric which is woven each day into the tapestry of what WSOC offers the children. The College also takes the theme of each season into its deliberations of the curriculum, the children and the business which it holds. 

Please come and see the Shepherd's Play on Friday evening Dec. 19 and imbue your holidays with the light of the season.

Wishing all in our community the gift of light "that gives warmth to simple shepherd's hearts, that enlightens the wise heads of kings".

Knit-a-Purlooza

Adults Join us for "Brew and Knit" - January 12

Please join us for the second brew night at Barley Forge Brewing in Costa Mesa, Monday, January 12th, 7:00 pm.   A good chance to catch up on your knitting, have a GOOD brew and visit with friends! 

"Knit-In" - January 21 - Parents Invited to Join at 3:00 pm

Here it is..... the final tally, the big push, the crescendo!! And we are going to celebrate!!

For the last 2 lessons from 1:10 - 2:50, the grades will be busy working away to complete their unfinished squares, helping one another as a community to finish as many squares as we can. 

The WOW list!

There are some go-getters, serious knitters out there!  Take a look!

Mr. Brad's Mom - 53 squares...and counting!

Hynes family - 46 squares...... and counting!

Sandy Meadows - 28 squares..... and counting!

Lauren Boyle and family - 23 squares .....and counting! !

Yuki Shiraki - 12 squares....and counting!

And really all the gorgeous squares coming in with the love of our kids in them is a BIG wow....!  We have a tally of 511!  Keep clicking those needles. We hear Mr. Faerber is keeping his stash of finished squares in hiding.

A couple of weekends ago, we celebrated the season with our much loved annual Winter Festival - for the first time held in our high school.  A creative, hard-working crew of staff and parent volunteers transformed the campus into cheerful and cozy festival grounds and the weather could not have been more perfect!

The classrooms usually dedicated to serious learning welcomed in guests young and old to create holiday crafts, dip beeswax candles, pluck a fortune from a candle boat, and sample irresistible applesauce. Delicious food, treats, and hot drinks were served at every corner. Little ones enjoyed the Crystal Forest, Twinkle Star Café and Elves' Workshop, and the whole community gathered in reverence at the end of the day to witness the 7^th grade students' journey walking the Advent Spiral.

From the Winter Festival Committee to all of you, our deepest gratitude for creating and holding this wonderful gift for our children and community. With our best wishes for a peaceful, merry and bright holiday season!