Knighting Ceremony

In Waldorf Schools across the world, we pay particular attention to the development of the child. This includes honoring and celebrating certain rites of passage. Our knighting ceremony is one of those. Our combined 6th/7th grade class was tasked with certain things they needed to accomplish such as ….. When each child successfully achieved these an evening ceremony was held with the families and parents. Each child stood up and …..

In the Middle Ages, the societies of Europe grew up around the need for protection, which is why there were so many castles. There were roughly three classes bound together in a system called feudalism: those who labored, those who prayed, and those who fought.

The few who fought to protect the communities were the rulers and the warriors called chevaliers in French and knights in English. Chevalier is the word for “one who rides a horse.”

The knight was expected to follow a strict code of conduct called chivalry, which comes from this word, chevalier. The Laws of Chivalry demanded high standards from the knights. Their training was rigorous and began when the child was seven or eight. He had to be dependable, honest, loyal, and responsible, for the life of the knight he served could be at stake. These lessons saw him through adolescence.

The knight was expected to be a defender of widows, orphans, and of all servants of God, against the cruelty of their enemies. Today our enemies are those things that keep us from being true to the goodness within ourselves. Many things may lull us into forgetting or ignoring what we know is right –we get too busy or there is social pressure to act cool – instead of being warm with others. When I stop listening to my heart, I slowly forget who I truly am, and I forget the true quest that brought me here to this earth.

The Bhagavad Gita tells us that the sword of self-knowledge cuts away the ignorance which blinds us. These next few weeks you will be actively developing that self-knowledge. With your courageous acts of kindness and service, you will take steps toward being knights and ladies – today we call them men and women of character.

You will have many different experiences during this time, some fun and perhaps some not so. In going out into the world to make a positive difference you develop virtue. This virtue is not something that automatically comes to a man or woman because they come of age.

Manhood and womanhood become a reality as you develop your own character, realizing that you are becoming the product of your own decisions, good or bad. You will be developing personal integrity, doing what you say you will do. Your deeds of service and kindness show maturity, wisdom, and insight. You have the strength of soul and character beyond your years.

An excerpt from one of the students in Grade 6

"The knighting Ceremony is a time when you make your way from being a child into a young adult. There are many challenges to face on that journey, physical and mental. It teaches you how to help others and be kinder to friends, family, and yourself. I think it was a great way to welcome the ages between child and adult into a special ceremony. It gives you that satisfaction that you are now a mature knight and you are more responsible and can take care of yourself. You are asked to help out at home and school and challenge yourself in many ways. " June Holmes