SAINT MARTIN'S DAY IN GERMANY by Ana Belén

Hello classmates,

If you are travelling to Germany in November you can enjoy one of the most important traditions.

                                                    SAINT MARTIN'S DAY

First I will tell you a little story to let you know where this tradition comes from.

Martinius was the son of a soldier and when he was 15 years old, he had to join in the Roman military.  One day when he was riding a horse, he found an indigent person in the street. It was cold and Martinius ripped his cape with his sword and gave a half to the man.  He felt so good that from that moment dedicated to helping the others.

In the village the word was spread and everybody wanted to name him successor of the Bishop.  Martinius, who was very shy, didn't want that distinction and ran away hiding himself  at night in a goose stable. He made a few lanterns with the typical seasonal pumpkins putting a candle inside to see in the dark.  The angry geese screamed so much that discovered Martinius and he became Bishop of Saint Martin of Tours.

Since then in Germany it is a tradition for children at schools to make paper lanterns, which are made of plastic bottles of water just cutting the top and the cap and wrapping the bottle with painted and decorated paper.  Inside a candle or a bar with a little light bulb is placed.

Although Saint Martin's day is November 11th, on November 6th the parades begin.

Saint Martín goes ahead on horseback with a red cape. The children walk in processions carrying the lanterns that have done at school and singing songs to Saint Martín. " Torch, torch, sun, moon and stars".  People give them sweets also as part of the tradition.

Also it is a custom to light bonfires and to cook the geese which are the informers and snitchers of the story.  They are usually served with red cabbage like the typical dish in that day.

After the parade  a "Weckman" is given to the children. It's a man-shaped bun, whose eyes are two raisins and on their hands they hold a ceramic pipe.

It's very likely that this custom is the Anglosaxon predecessor of .........................




See you soon!!

Ana Belén