The Rudolf Steiner Archive

a project of Steiner Online Library, a public charity

The Festivals and Their Meaning I:
Christmas

This volume is a tremendous help for participating in the deep spiritual realities behind the Christmas festival. Throughout his life Steiner talked about a modern spiritually conscious approach to the festivals of the year. Here is a compilation of what he had to say at various times about Christmas.

These eight lectures were given by Rudolf Steiner at various cities in the years 1904 through 1922. They were given to audiences familiar with the general background and terminology of Steiner's anthroposophical teaching.

Records exist of some 48 lectures given by Rudolf Steiner between the years 1904 and 1923 on the meaning and significance of the Christmas Festival. The present volume (Volume I of a series) contains the texts of eight of these lectures. Volumes II, III and IV of this series on The Festivals and their Meaning contain the texts of lectures by Rudolf Steiner on Easter, Ascension and Pentecost, and Michaelmas. Translated by Dorothy S. Osmond

Christmas Meditation
I. The Christmas Festival: A Token of the Victory of the Sun December 24th, 1905
II. Signs and Symbols of the Christmas Festival December 17th, 1906
III. The Birth of the Sun Spirit as the Spirit of the Earth. The Thirteen Holy Nights December 26th, 1911
IV. Christmas at a Time of Grievous Destiny December 21st, 1916
V. The Proclamations to the Magi and the Shepherds January 1st, 1921
VI. On the Three Magi December 30th, 1904
VII. The Revelation of the Cosmic Christ December 26th, 1921
VIII. The Birth of Christ Within Us December 27th, 1914