German Customs and Traditions History of St. Martinstag By: Brian Becker

Overview Takes place on November 11 (Veteran’s Day in America) Combination of Halloween and Thanksgiving Celebrates the feast of Saint Martin. Primarily a Catholic tradition.

Overview (Cont.) Traditionally, St. Martinstag was celebrated as the end of the harvest season (i.e. Thanksgiving). It was a time when the poor could enjoy some of the fine foods from the local lord.

St. Martin A soldier in the Roman army, he is most known for tearing his cloak (die Mantelteilung) in two and sharing it with a beggar in Amiens. Gained the title of Bishop of Tours, and is considered the most revered of European saints.

Trauftig Martin Luthers European Protestants celebrate the christening of protestant reformer Martin Luther on November 11, instead of the Catholic St. Martinstag. This makes it his Tauftag, or baptismal day.

How to Celebrate St. Martinstag It is primarily celebrated by a procession of children with candle-lit lanterns following ‘St. Martin’ on his white horse. The Children sing songs about the life of St. Martin, a popular one is as follows: Ich geh' mit meiner Laterne Und meine Laterne mit mir. I'm walking with my lantern and my latern walks with me.

How to Celebrate St. Martinstag (Cont.) Immediately following the procession is a feast of roast goose. In former times, “Martini” was the official start of the winter season, but it is now the start of the winter shopping season.

Questions Q: What did St. Martin share with the freezing beggar? Q: Who do the Protestants celebrate on Nov. 11?

Answers A: His cloak A: Martin Luther

References http://german.about.com/library/blbraeuche_martin.htm http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art47400.asp http://www.kikisweb.de/spezial/stmartin/geschichten/legende.htm