by Honor Taft, Head of School

Harvest is one of the longest standing and most beloved celebrations at Friends School. It marks the change of seasons, celebrates the bounty of the fall harvest, and elevates the beauty and strength of community and partnership. I look forward to this every fall and that feeling of anticipation reminds me of the rituals and traditions of my own childhood.

In my family, the arrival of fall was marked by an annual event we hosted on our northeast family farm called the “Moonlight Beagle”, held on the Sunday closest to the full moon in October. The event always boasted chilly air warmed by the sun, and underfoot the crunch of a landscape of colorful fallen leaves, loud enough to interrupt conversation.  

The Old Chatham Hunt Club, pulling their trailer of beagles onto our hayfield, is met by children running to meet the beagles, while families from across Columbia county and beyond park along the hill and soak in the sun. The Field Master leads the visitors on a walk through the nearby woods and, along with their “whips” the Master of the Hounds, guides and supports the beagles through their hunting exercise.

While the beagling part is always favored by some, the cherished memory for me is actually what comes next. As the sun begins to set and the beagles retire for the day, families bring their blankets and picnic basket to the ridge of our hayfield. When you stand on top of the ridge facing west you can see the Berkshire mountains and when you turn around facing east you will see the Catskill mountains. In the center of the ridge we have prepared a large bonfire, and set up picnic tables reserved for those who struggle to sit on the ground.  

The fire is lit, picnic baskets are opened, and we await…the moonrise. People share their picnics and wander from blanket to blanket to chat and catch up, while some head off to play flashlight tag in the field and others gather around the fire and sing campfire songs. People hang around late into the evening until we can feel the moisture settling on the grass that will almost surely be turned to frost by morning.

As a parent, I reflect on the events and traditions that were a part of my upbringing and aim to assure that my children will also have beautiful memories like this to reflect on one day. I also find that one of the things my children enjoy most is hearing about my childhood, the journey that made me who I am, and the traditions and celebrations that shaped me. 

My hope is that my story recalls your own moonrise… a memory, a tradition or ritual of your own that you might share with your family. Doing this helps your children see you not just as the parent they love and look up to, but also as whole humans who are connected through the cycles of the year and our journeys.