St Martin’s Day

By Kate

Introduction: What is the name of the event and why is it special?

What: St Martin’s Day

Why it is special: Many people across European countries celebrate the kindness of St. Martin who cut his cloak and shared it with a beggar in a snowstorm.

Who is St. Martin?

St. Martin was born in Hungary in 316, then lived in what is now Italy and France. As a teenager, he joined the Roman army, becoming a soldier like his father. He was eventually baptized into the Christian church, founded a monastery, and became Bishop of Tours (France). He died on November 8, 397. The Feast day of St. Martin is November 11, the day he was buried.

When and where does St. Martin’s Day happen?

When: 11th of November each year

Main countries where St. Martin’s Day is held:

Germany Austria Belgium Netherlands

Other countries where St. Martin’s Day is held:

Croatia, Slovenia, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, and the UK.

What do you do?

In a St. Martin’s Day procession, families get together and walk for quite a long time, following a man wearing a bright

red cape on a horse. Because it is winter time, everyone wears warm and comfy jackets. Some people bake Weckmanns. (a Weckmann is a sweet bread loaf)

This is a photo of a Weckmann

My family has participated in a St. Martin’s Day procession in Germany, 2009.

Me

My sister Sophie

My sister Emma

This is a photo of some families with lanterns.

What do German schools do?

In their procession, one of their class-mates dresses up as St. Martin and rides along on a horse. After the procession, they usually have a Weckmann and a cup of hot chocolate,

standing around a big bonfire.

After school, the children take part in a St. Martin's Day procession. They carry home-made lanterns and sing

traditional songs.

Words to a St. Martin’s Day Song

German English

Ich geh' mit meiner Laterne, I'm going with my lantern,

Und meine Laterne mit mir. And my lantern goes with me.

Dort oben leuchten die Sterne, Up above the stars are glowing,.

Hier unten, da leuchten wir. And glowing, too, are we.

Mein Licht ist aus, My light is out,

Wir geh'n nach Haus, We're going home,

Rabimmel, rabammel, rabum. Rabimmel, rabammel, rabum.

Music to a St. Martin’s Day Song

What websites I used

www.ukgermanconnection.org/kids-stmartins-day

www.thelocal.de

www.wikipedia.org

Photos from Google images

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