9th February 2024

Dear Michael Hall Community,

It is the last Friday Flyer of this half term in which, this year, St. Valentine's day lies. Festivals and the seasons of the year are very important to us at Michael Hall as rhythms are important for health and an integral part of nature, interwoven into the biology of every living thing.

I always research each festival point of the year as it is so interesting to see how they evolved and emerged in this country  from the intertwining of their pagan and Christian roots. In Roman times, there was a festival called Februa which occurred on the 15^th February which celebrated  fertility, and personifications of Cupid could be seen through the streets along with people dressed as wolves and goats (as a nod to Pan). Due to large changes in calendar since then, it is difficult to say whether it was a precursor and historians even debate whether Chaucer's mention of St. Valentine in one of his verses talking of the celebration of Spring was actually at the same time as it is now. But it is certainly a time of year where hints of the coming of Spring are all around and I am thoroughly enjoying hearing more birds. I will leave you with Chaucer's verse:

"For this was on Saint Valentine's Day
When every bird comes there to choose his match
Of every kind that men may think of
And that so huge a noise they began to make
That earth and air and tree and every lake
Was so full, that not easily was there space
For me to stand—so full was all the place."

Wishing you all plenty of love next week,

With warm regards,

Emmeline Hawker
Director of Studies

Upper School Ball 

The Sixties were back for the Upper School Ball on Feb 2nd.  mini-dresses, mods, hippies and rockers were all very much in evidence, as the young people danced the evening away.  Congratulations to Frankie  - Winner of "Best Dressed".