A Christmas Play in Mexico

“Bless oh Lord the way we tread” sings a small procession led by an angel. Accompanied by the Mexican sounds of a guitar and violin the Oberufer Christmas Plays begin at the Centro Educativo Goethe for the nineteenth year in succession, performed in two shifts for the 101 children and their parents. - A portrait of a very committed school.

“I am glad we came” thinks Luisa, a Kindergarden mother. It took her and her children 45 minutes in the chaotic traffic to get to this peaceful, small street in the South of Mexico City. The company stops singing and the “Star Singer” begins his greetings. “She looks like Miss Monica”, says Sebastian to his mother. He sees her working daily in the kindergarden´s administration. Now she unfolds the long star-cissors. Everybody gasps delighted…

The choir sings a traditional Spanish Christmas song, while Mary washes her laundry. Sebastian raises in the chair: She looks like his teacher: Veronica Lozano, Waldorf kindergarden teacher since 1984.

The Spanish song stops, now Joseph is worried about Caesar Augustus tribute – and may be, about his own taxes too, since he is Octavio Reyes, the Antroposophical branch’s secretary, made his curative education studies in Bad Boll, Germany. He is teacher and makes research at the Mexican National University and practices Steiner’s remedial pedagogy in private sessions. His support has been determinating for the school - spiritually as well as materially. But now this Joseph can not get a roof: Two young enthusiastic and strong teachers (graduates in Design, 2nd class, and psychology, 3rd class) and a recently arrived music teacher, incarnate the three Innkeepers.

The audience follows Jesus birth in a rare calm, to the wonder of some new parents, since the “stress” of modern times and the growing violence and criminality in our country have increased nervousness in children and adults greatly.

After the joyful chorus enters Galo (Gallus), tall, thin shivering with cold: It’s Mrs. Lourdes Mendez, Class Waldorf Teacher from 1987 to 1998. Presently, she works preparing the documents and all requirements to obtain the official registration of the kindergarden, which has recently become obligatory by law and is now our priority.

Galo-Gallus faces now with his staff Miguel-Stichl, the young shepherd whose character cheers up the play, giving it life. – Pilar Fenelón gives also much life to the school. Now 6th grade teacher, she made her formation as class teacher and in Bothmer Gymnastics in Mannheim. She is class teacher and movement teacher since 1988, leads reading groups, workshops for parents, does teacher’s tutoring and much more.

A tambourine and a “Spanish clapping” start the three shepherds round. Tirso-Wittock springs higher than the others – although he is “older”. She is Sofia Herrera, young teacher who has been with us since 1999: first as administrator and now, after years following courses, finally as a 1st class teacher.

The shepherds abandon the stall in wonder, and then dance. Suddenly, a scratched violin and the strumming of the guitar surprise the audience with “Las Chiapanecas” a Mexican folkloric song, with wich Crispino, the very old shepherd, enters. The audience laughs delighted: behind the long white beard spark the eyes of Elisa Martínez, now handcrafts and painting teacher.

A short break ... and the next performance

The company walks gaily out, feasting Jesus birth. There will be a 2nd performance, since the place can only hold half of the children. In the school yard the comments burst enthusiastically. New parents are surprised by the intensity of the activities. On November 11th, the Lanterns Day, where Kindergarden and elementary school came together there was the Christmas Bazar: very active parent’s workshops and the excitement of that day. Everybody still remembers the colorful, cheerful Folkloric dance presentation, prepared by the teachers and some parents, under the direction of Silvia Jimenez, who teaches sports and folkloric dances to grades 3 to 6.

Meanwhile in the “dressing room” there are comments among the “actors”: Lucky there was a performance last week in Tlaxcala City in the baroque church. We were there invited by the Centro Educativo Waldorf, founded in 1998 by Isabel Fenelón, who also founded our Centro Educativo Goethe: 1981 the kindergarden and 1986 the school.

“It’s time to start again”, says Alicia Jimenez, and proceeds to announce the Shepherd’s play. Everybody pays attention: she is our Technical Director for the Education Ministery. Her task is difficult and of major importance, since de Federal Law for Education imposes the same curriculum for the whole country. She deals diplomatically with the authorities, so that we can keep on following the Waldorf curriculum. This law is a major obstacle for Waldorf Education in Mexico.

In this 2nd performance, there are children from the 3rd class to the 6th. Something calls their attention specially: the guitar chords, played today by Margarita Castañón, their teacher. They all receive guitar lessons and many can already play fluently singing or even play classical pieces and it is not rare to see groups of children sharing their play with others.

Something unexpected happens: very loud “Salsa music” melt with the recorder that plays “Es ist ein Ros entsprungen”. But the audience remains still, following Jesus birth. “After all, we are in a popular neighborhood”, some parents say afterwards, while they organize everybody’s transportation: not all of them have a car; economical situation is more and more difficult. But many look radiant and will convey gratefully that the Christmas play is – together with many activities in the school – a gift for the heart.

Thankful remembering of the founders

Meanwhile in the dressing room, the teachers gather happily for the yearly photo - feeling again how unique this experience is. The income as a Waldorf teacher is not much (there’s no state support. Average teacher income is 557 € monthly. A four member modest family needs 600-700 €). Work seems sometimes too much, but experiences are unique and they enrich you so much. A state teacher earns the same or less, but his work can be very rutinary.

Later on, two teachers remain behind to put off the lights of the Music and Gymnastics Room. They see beside the door the wood carved names; Juan and Ana Elisabeth Berlin – a modest tribute to the man who strove since he arrived to México in 1939 to develop Waldorf Education here.

Juan Berlin had been student at the first Waldorf School in Stuttgart and had even seen Rudolf Steiner. He founded two schools: one private (1955-1958) and a state one (1971-75). Both had to close. His spirit seems to be present still in our school. His dead in 1987 shocked us sadly, but his wife Ana Elisabeth continued his work until she also passed away in 1997. The two teachers talk about our achievements: perseverance, harmony among teachers and parents and the strong impulse of the younger teachers.

After obtaining the kindergarden official registration our next priority will be to buy the necessary land for a bigger school; though the means to do it are not clear yet.

But there is a bigger task to accomplish – common to all Waldorf schools: To preserve spiritual life in every child coming to our school, according to Spiritual Science and thus open windows that cast light into the future.

Margarita Castañón

Donation key word: 4485 Mexico     Donate      Overview      Next report