https://www.waldorfpublications.org/blogs/book-news/21208897-may-day-in-the-waldorf-school - Steiner in turn influenced by Rosicrucian and other mystical movements attempting to revive pagan, non-christian ritual practices. Morton from wikipedia: Thomas Morton was born in Devon in 1579, into a conservative Anglican family belonging to the landed gentry. Devon at that time was seen as the "dark corner of the land" by Protestant reformers, for its traditionalist intransigence, which included not only a High Church Anglicanism that shared many traits with Catholicism, but a paternalistic populism combined with rural folk tradition that to the Puritans seemed close to paganism. To locals, however, it was merely "Old England"—a culture firmly ingrained in them.
I'm reminded that the school I attended in Wharton County, Texas, for grades 3-8 held an annual May Fete, the highlight of which was the fourth graders performing the traditional maypole dance. As I recall, it was a much more solemn affair than its historical precedents would predict!
https://www.waldorfpublications.org/blogs/book-news/21208897-may-day-in-the-waldorf-school - Steiner in turn influenced by Rosicrucian and other mystical movements attempting to revive pagan, non-christian ritual practices. Morton from wikipedia: Thomas Morton was born in Devon in 1579, into a conservative Anglican family belonging to the landed gentry. Devon at that time was seen as the "dark corner of the land" by Protestant reformers, for its traditionalist intransigence, which included not only a High Church Anglicanism that shared many traits with Catholicism, but a paternalistic populism combined with rural folk tradition that to the Puritans seemed close to paganism. To locals, however, it was merely "Old England"—a culture firmly ingrained in them.
Fascinating stuff—thank you!
Good luck with the transition to a new platform.
I'm reminded that the school I attended in Wharton County, Texas, for grades 3-8 held an annual May Fete, the highlight of which was the fourth graders performing the traditional maypole dance. As I recall, it was a much more solemn affair than its historical precedents would predict!