Waldorf Colors of the Day

Children feel calmer and less anxious when they know what to expect during their days and weeks. However, time can feel slippery and confusing to children; especially when the names of the days of the week all sound the same (in English). 

If you’ve been hanging out in Waldorf circles or spaces for any amount of time, you’ve probably noticed the use of the colors of the day. The teachers and parents talk about the days of the week using colors; for example, “On Yellow Day, we will go to the library. On Blue Day, your brother has a soccer game.”

Why the colors of the day? Using the colors of the day makes the passage of time more visual and easier for young children to grasp.  

Recognizing the colors of the day in your home can be an easy way to add order and rhythm to your days and week, especially for those who are just beginning to create or reimagine their rhythm.

What are the colors?

• Monday: Purple Day
• Tuesday: Red Day
• Wednesday: Yellow Day
• Thursday: Orange Day
• Friday: Green Day
• Saturday: Blue Day
• Sunday: White Day

The first response I usually hear is: “Wait. That doesn’t look right. Why aren’t they in the order of the rainbow?”
Because they are named after the celestial bodies: sun, moon, and planets. I won’t get into the why here but they are the associated celestial bodies for those who are interested and wanted to do their own research into this.

Meaning:

• Monday: Moon
• Tuesday: Mars
• Wednesday: Mercury
• Thursday: Jupiter
• Friday: Venus
• Saturday: Saturn
• Sunday: Sun

Using the Colors of the Day

How do we “recognize the colors of the day” in our homes and use them to build a rhythm? 

• First and foremost, start using the color names for the days of the week. Write the names of the days of the week and stick them in a visible spot so you can reference them while you learn. “Tomorrow is Green Day and we are going to swim lessons. We have swim lessons every Green Day.”
• Add a visual representation to your home. This could be a simple chart you use that shows each day. Over time, I added colored napkins, tablecloths, and dishcloths to my kitchen. Some people even like to dress in the color of the day to help reduce choices for clothing. 
• Begin to add consistent and predictable moments to your days of the week. Perhaps you have pancakes every Blue Day morning or you go to the library every Red Day. Some families plan chores around the different days. (Purple Day is laundry day and Red Day is mopping day, etc) 

A circular rhythm chart can be a great way to begin adding rhythm to your life. I like using a circular chart because it helps children to understand the nature of time. Time is not linear, many of our moments in life happen in cycles, and a circular chart helps young children to begin to notice that Monday/Purple Day always comes back around.