St. Martin’s Day

For centuries St. Martin’s Day has been one of the most important and cherished days in the Estonian folk calendar. It remains popular today, especially among young people and the rural population.

In Estonia, children often go from house to house on St. Martin’s Day, singing their St. Martin’s Day songs and wishing households good luck for crops, cattle and for the household in general. The most cherished time for going door-to- door is St. Martin’s Eve, when traditionally the group leader was a male, called the Martin Elder or Elder Saint.

Laske sisse Mardisandid! Mardi küütsud külmetavad, Mardi varvad valutavad, sõrmeotsad sõitelevad. Mart on tulnud kaugeelta, üle soo, suure libeda. Peretütar, neitsikene, tõuse üles voodiesta, puhu sa tuli tuasse, lõõtsu lõke lõukaalta! The song is about Mart who has came from far away and is terribly cold. He asks the lady in the house to make fire and let him in to get warm.

1. In the agricultural calendar it marks the beginning of the natural winter. 2. In the economic calendra it is seen as the end of autumn.

Originating in France, the tradition of celebrating St. Martin’s Day spread to Germany in the 16th century and later to Scandinavia and the Baltics. St. Martin’s Day is also known as the celebration that marks the end of field works and the beginning of the harvesting period. Following these holidays, women traditionally moved their work indoors for the winter, while men would proceed to work in the forests.

Estonia’s St. Martin’s Day customs are connected foremost with those of Halloween, which is widely celebrated in other European countries.

In olden days In olden days only boys or men were running from house to house. Marts put on fur coats and big boots. The clothes were mostly brown and black. Fur coats were turned inside out. Usually fur hats were worn as well. Face was painted with ashes. Marts sang special Mardipäev songs, danced, told riddles etc. They were given bread, meat or other food before they left. Now Now mostly it’s children who go for Mardipäev run; girls dress up as boys too. Children don’t put on heavy fur coats. They have colourful clothes what look different (even witches’, clowns’, cats’, dogs’ or other funny costumes) and put on make up or wear masks. Marts these days sing any songs they know; tell jokes; do card tricks etc. Families who they visit usually give them sweets.

Surju Põhikool Form 9 November 2007