May Faire Information for Parents
"The world's favorite season is the spring.
All things seem possible in May."
- Edwin Way Teale
What is May Faire?
Spring is a time of awakening from the slumber of winter. It is the season of renewal, rejuvenation, and rebirth. May Faire is an annual outdoor festival that welcomes the spring. Modeled on May Day, this tradition is celebrated by Waldorf schools all over the world. It engages students with the larger community and celebrates the spirit in which Waldorf schools nourish and support the child’s connection to nature and the seasonal cycles. Cultivating an awareness of our seasons serves as a reminder that the Earth is a living being, one which we depend upon and respect.
The most iconic element of May Faire is the children’s Maypole dance, celebrating a centuries-old tradition brought to America by European settlers.May Day, typically celebrated May 1, has a significant connection to the Roman festival of Floralia, whichcelebrated the fertility of springtime. Flora – the Roman goddess in whose honor the festival was held – was the goddess of flowers, many of which burst into full bloom in spring.
May Faire is a curriculum event because celebrating the seasons and our world is a fundamental part of who we are as a school. We wear white or light pastels to serve as a backdrop for the splendid beauty of the flowers that adorn our campus. Our children wear flower crowns and dance and weave ribbons around the May Pole. We play games and music, do crafts, frolicwith our kids and enjoy homemade treats with our friends and neighbors. This celebration of spring ties us to our greater human family, past and present, in a tangible and powerful way. It reminds us to be thankful to the planet we call home. Thank you for joining us in this joyful and meaningful celebration of new beginnings!
May Faire Information for Parents
Please remember that the May Faire is a curriculum event.
All students are expected to participate. The date is May 7, 2016.
Before the event
Decor: We need the support of all families in providing donations. Every family is expected to bring one of the following:
- $20 -To be given to your Room Rep. Money will be used to buy flowers wholesale and other materials needed for decorating.
- Ferns, olive branches, eucalyptus or flowering vines from your yard
- 4 bunches of wax flowers, baby’s breath, straw flowers or statice
- 4 bunches of flowers (preferably hearty flowers such as sunflowers, daisies etc.)
On the day of the event
No wristbands or entrance fee this year!
Arrival: Students need to arrive in their classrooms by 9:15 a.m. with their floral hair garlands ready.
Dress: Students (and family members, if they wish) should wear white, pastels, or beige.
Bring: Blankets, chairs, and sunscreen, plus snacks and water for little ones during performance. After the
Maypole dancing, food & drink stands and silent auction will be open.
Parking: The festival is open to the larger community. Parking will be available at Fairview Park or Estancia High School.
Crafts: Booths will be open 11:00 a.m.—1:45 p.m. Tickets are $1.00 each. Please purchase your tickets at theticket booth or before the event at Company of Angels.
Photographers: Only two photographers per class will be allowed to take pictures. Each Room Rep will distribute the photographer badges.
This year we will raffle some of the flower arrangements and flower balls at end of May Faire!
Please only take cut flowers with you after May Faire. All other items will be repurposed or planted.
Tips for Getting May Faire Flowers/Décor
1. Make your vendor requests now!
- Face-to-face visits, as opposed to phone calls, elicit a more generous response.
- Make sure the vendor knows that we are a small, nonprofit school so their donation will not only be much appreciated, it will also be tax-deductible.
- Bring pictures of past May Faire events (yearbooks are great for this)--this allows the vendor to see what beautiful work we are able to do with the donations.
2.Make sure that you get the name and business card (if possible) of the flower person from whom you will be getting the donations--this way he/she will feel accountable, and you can bring in the names to Carolyn Gregg in the office so that they will receive a thank-you note.
Thank you for your support of this beautiful event!