Martinstag

St. Martin’s Day

• St. Martin’s Day is celebrated by children in parts of Germany, Austria and Switzerland on 11th November.

• St. Martin was originally a Roman soldier in the 4th century who, according to legend, once came across a beggar in a snowstorm.

• St. Martin cut his cloak in half to share with the beggar to save him from dying of the cold.

• As a result of his continuing good deeds and generosity, St. Martin was chosen to become a Bishop.

• St. Martin, a quiet and simple man, did not feel worthy of the honour, and according to another legend, hid in a barn full of geese.

• He was found when the geese in the barn started making loud noises, and was duly appointed the Bishop of Tours.

• The goose – der Gans – is the animal symbol of St. Martin and a favourite food on St. Martin’s Day.

• On St. Martin’s Day the children walk through the streets after dark carrying lanterns – Laternen – and singing a lantern song in honour of St. Martin.

• Sometimes a man on horseback, wearing a red cloak, leads the procession of children.

• Children eat “sweet bread men” called Weckmänner on this day.

• Often the lantern procession ends with a bonfire known as Martinsfeuer.

• See and hear a lantern song – Laternenlied:

http://www.mamalisa.com/?t=es&p=444&c=38#multimediaBoxInternalLink