A Glimpse into the Magic of the Fossil Bay Lantern Festival

Celebrating the Lantern Festival: A Time of Light and Community

The highly anticipated Lantern Festival is taking place on the 18th June 2025.

Festivals mark the rhythm of the year and the changing seasons. Steiner spoke of the annual cycle as the Earth’s mighty breath in relation to the cosmos: winter forces are drawn inward from the cosmos, while summer forces are breathed outward. Winter is often seen as a time of dormancy. However, on Waiheke, where rain brings new growth, winter is symbolically rich, with the Earth’s forces at their most active, working within.

This season is also believed to be a time when the veil between the human and spirit worlds is at its thinnest, reminding us that help from the Spirit world, God, or the Great Universe is always available. It is a time to recognise the approaching cold and darkness, and to honour the light within each of us. This inner light, like the flame in our lanterns, needs protection from being extinguished.

A Festival Aligned with Matariki
Our Lantern Festival takes place around the same time as Matariki, the Māori New Year—a time for remembrance, reflection, and renewal. Both festivals honour the turning of the season and the power of light in darkness. While Matariki invites us to remember those who have passed and to set intentions for the year ahead, the Lantern Festival encourages us to nurture our inner light and come together as a community. Both offer a moment to pause, look inward, and reconnect with the spiritual forces that guide and support us.

The Essence of the Festival
The Lantern Festival is a celebration of the light that shines forth from each of us. As the darkness of winter closes in, we gather to support one another, fostering a sense of belonging within our families and the wider community, and sharing our light with others. 

In the lead-up to the festival, school children create their lanterns at school, while kindergarten families craft theirs at home. Children sing songs and hear stories about midwinter darkness and the importance of guarding our inner light.

On the evening of the festival, we begin by sharing warm soup together. The children are then gathered for a seasonal story before we set off on our lantern walk through the enchanting grounds of Fossil Bay Farm, following a pathway lit with handmade grottos glowing gently in the darkness. Our journey, illuminated by the candles in the lanterns we carry, culminates in a gathering around a bonfire, where we are held in warmth, light, and community.