Let me add that my daughter's Waldorf school does not host a Halloween party like the area public schools. Autumn brings two festivals to their school: Michaelmas and Martinmas. Both are observed through story-telling, songs, arts & crafts, and a healthy community potluck. Both of these events have stories with deeper moral values and symbolism:
http://waldorfjourney.typepad.com/a_journey_through_waldorf/2008/09/michaelmas-festival.html
http://maymomvt.blogspot.com/2007/11/making-lanterns-for-martinmas.html
Our paper mache lanterns made by layering tissue paper and watered-down glue over balloons.
Being an evolving Waldorf family, what we have done is incorporate some of these autumn themes into our circle time with songs about spiders (ie, The Itsy Bitsy Spider and Little Miss Muffet), learn about the lives of spiders, and read story books with spiders in them. Instead of carving jack-o-lanterns, we are learning about pumpkins and squash as foods. These have really caught her eye in the store since they're so different from her familiar bananas, apples and baby carrots. Learning about seasonal produce is a focus for us so that her diet remains varied. She can expand her tastes to include healthy foods that most kids are not eating. (Aren't french fries the number one vegetable most kids eat?!) My toddler can touch and feel the unique texture of acorn squash, butternut squash, and spaghetti squash at the grocery store. She can then help me cut it up, remove the seeds, cook it, and help prepare a special autumn meal made from autumn produce. One of the special recipes we are trying to perfect is real pumpkin soup that is served inside a hollowed-out pumpkin. I think this is an impressive way to present soup and gives it a better purpose than carving it for mere decoration. I found this recipe if you'd like to try it tonight for your dinner:
http://www.food.com/recipe/martha-stewarts-pumpkin-soup-in-a-pumpkin-13557
Every fall I love to cook roasted acorn squash. I cut the squash in half, add butter, chopped walnuts or pecans, some brown sugar, dried cranberries, and roast it in the oven. The red cranberries give it additional color and the beautiful shape of the squash is a stand-out on the dining room table. This also makes a nice brunch dish.
My favorite butternut squash dish is a good bisque! I'm still looking for one that my toddler will eat but that has enough extra flavor to interest adults. Otherwise, it makes a nice puree that combines well with peaches or pears or mangos for tasty and healthy baby food.
Don't forget about the beautiful and antioxidant-rich pomegranates that are common in the fall. We just bought a few today and she had a wonderful "moment of discovery" as we cut into it and and saw it reveal dozens of little ruby pearl seeds. She helped me meticulously remove the seeds and we sprinkled them on top of our salad. Speaking of salads, try combining your fresh pomegranate seeds with kale or spinach and add sunflower seeds, almonds, walnuts, carrots...the possibilities are endless. Pomegranate chicken is another favorite dish of mine.
Whatever you do with your autumn produce, it is far better than participating in the mass consumerism that is promoted this time of year. Isn't spending more time in the produce section better than visiting the black-and-orange-mega-size-candy aisle? If you have the option, why not take your children to a local pumpkin patch instead of that typical school or friend sugarfest/costume party? Take a hay ride, craft your own scarecrow, knit a blanket, pay attention to the local wildlife as they prepare for winter, or donate winter coats to a shelter. For instance, something simple and beautiful I did this morning was to take my daughter outside in the early hours to look at the bright moon and stars still shining before dawn. These dark mornings are so neat for kids to observe and are a signal to them that summer has gone and a new, colder season is approaching.
With this Halloween bombardment, I'm reminded about my desire to create more wholesomeness in my soul and in my family. I love how Waldorf education brings this out in me. Needless to say, the way Halloween is celebrated just makes me feel yucky...tainted...anything but healthy and vibrant and thriving. It doesn't move me forward in life. So, we will be turning off our porch lights on the 31st, enjoying each other's company, and not eating candy corn-- but a nice, hot bowl of homemade soup. What are you doing with your pumpkin?
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