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:
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