These were words written by Mrs. Marsha Johnson, a Master Waldorf Teacher, last year about Easter but they are so worth hearing again.  To Join Mrs. Johnson’s list, and hear more of her wisdom regarding parenting and home education, please see waldorfhomeeducators@yahoogroups.com

Here is what Mrs. Johnson wrote (and look for a special message from me at the bottom of this post)

Easter is approaching and in Waldorf schools we recognize this very important festival with a week before and a week after….on a break from school.
 
Two whole weeks. The first week is often a transition week, settling in, often traveling, kind of debriefing, doing all the house chores we have been putting off for months. 

Then the 2nd week, we really do finally relax for at least part of the week and then of course like good teachers, we spend the last few days getting ready for the back to school time.
 
Easter represents a true division in the time of the human on earth, it is a critical juxtaposition of the spirit world and the earthly world, when the being of Christ transformed the boundary of death into a living real experience. He transcended the boundaries of the finality of death. 

Steiner has many interesting things to say about the time of Easter and the Christ Being and many groups do schedule a time of 3-4 social study groups to read aloud some of the Easter texts and marvel at the new insights (always new) on this event in history.
 
In the olden days, the Easter time was the start of the new year, putting away the past history and moving into a new epoch. Families still can sense this great moment and often traditional celebrations of Easter are carried forward into the present day, with ancient symbols of rabbits, chicks, eggs, and certain cultural foods….often spring vegetables like asparagus and fresh green peas.
 
I hope you will find time in the next few days to create traditions with your own family that will enhance your Easter experience, sacred shrine creations, nature table additions, dyeing of eggs, and setting of the Easter Table, the Easter procession, the quiet sober Maundy Thursday night, with Passover traditions too, we can find our own sorrow over the human state of being and then the fantastic realization that the end is not….the end! 

Favorite recipes, home made eggs and treats, sweets like delicious fruit and nut studded Hot Cross Buns….what a wonderful way to greet the new season and celebrate our own victory as communal beings…

KID FAVORITE HOT CROSS BUNS

1 cup soy or animal milk, heated to blood warm
1 T. dried yeast, stirred in
1/3 cup maple syrup
1/3 cup brown sugar, organic
1 egg

Add yeast to warm milk, stir well and add syrup and sugar. Let sit until bubbly and foamy. Beat in 1 egg.
 
Add:
 
1 1/2 cups wheat flour
1/2 cup spelt flour
1 t. salt
1 t. cinnamon
handful of dried cranberries, another of diced chopped nuts, and another of organic chocolate chips

Stir well and then turn out onto floured board and add more flour as needed until the dough is well kneaded and smooth, stretchy and not too sticky.

Roll into an oiled bowl and cover in a warm place and let rise until doubled. Punch down and form into 9 rolls and place into an oiled baking pan. Let rise again, about 20 minutes.
 
Bake at 375 degrees for about 25 minutes until well browned.

Cool. Mix 1/2 cream cheese in a little baggie with a dollop of honey until blended. Use a zip lock baggie. Snip the corner of the baggie to make a small hole and then use the cream cheese to make x’s on top of each bun. Serve with scrambled or hard boiled eggs…..makes a great Easter Breakfast or Easter Tea treat!

Carrie here:  Always such inspiring words of wisdom.  For more Easter inspiration, please do see these back posts:

More From Mrs. Johnson regarding Easter: https://theparentingpassageway.com/2010/04/03/more-about-easter-in-the-waldorf-home/

For balancing the forty days of Lent with forty days after Easter: https://theparentingpassageway.com/2010/03/24/easter-and-its-forty-days-in-the-waldorf-home/ 

https://theparentingpassageway.com/2010/03/09/holy-week-and-easter-in-the-waldorf-home/

https://theparentingpassageway.com/2009/04/26/may-festivals-in-the-waldorf-home-may-day-ascension-and-whitsun/

https://theparentingpassageway.com/2009/03/03/celebrations-of-spring-in-the-waldorf-home/

If you are looking specifically ahead to Ascension:  https://theparentingpassageway.com/2010/05/12/ascension-day-in-the-waldorf-home/

Today is Holy Saturday and we are preparing for Easter Vigil tonight, a most holy and beautiful time.  For the week of Easter, I will be providing meditations on parenting based on the collects found in The Book Of Common Prayer.  I hope you can join me for this special one-week series!  We will also be covering more chapter in our book, “Love And Anger:  The Parental Dilemma”.

Happy and Holy Easter to you, and Happy Passover to my Jewish friends,

Carrie