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Nov. 11 does not only mark the beginning of the German carnival season, it is also St. Martin’s Day. On Sunday, Germans will honor the patron of the poor and friend of the children, St. Martin.
In the evenings before Nov. 11, or the night of Nov. 11, kindergarten children will walk in processions through Kaiserslautern and villages in the KMC to honor Martin of Tours. They will carry their lanterns, which they made in kindergarten, and sing Martin songs. Usually, the walk starts at a church and proceeds to a public square. A man on horseback dressed like a Roman soldier, Saint Martin, will accompany the children. When they reach the square, the Martin’s bonfire will be lit and Martin’s pretzels will be distributed. Martin was born in the year 316 or 317 as the son of a Roman civil servant. At age 15, he joined the emperor’s cavalry.
One cold winter day, he was riding through countryside when a shivering beggar came his way asking for alms. Since Martin had neither food nor money, he cut his robe in half with his sword and gave a piece to the freezing man. Supposedly, the following night, Jesus appeared in Martin’s dream and explained how he had been the freezing beggar, to whom he had given
half his robe.
This event changed the soldier’s life. He left the army, got baptized and became a student of Hilarius, Bishop of Poitiers, France. In 356, after Martin’s teacher was banned and after he failed to convert his father and others to the teachings of Hilarius, Martin left for an island near Genua, where he lived as a hermit.
In 360, Martin gave up his solitary life to join Hilarius again, returning to Poitiers. In 361, he founded the first Gallic monastery in Ligugé, France. In 371, the clergy and the people elected him bishop of Tours. In 375, he established Marmoutier, a monastery for ascetic life and a school for bishops.
Martin was still trying to evangelize pagans. On Nov. 8, 397, he died during a pastoral trip to Candes. Thousand of monks, consecrated virgins and others went to his funeral Nov. 11.
Years later, a basilica with the St. Martin Abbey was built on top of Martin’s gravesite. King Chlodwig elected Martin as patron of the Francs.
The tradition of the lanterns goes back to former times, when people lit candles to honor a saint and when lanterns were put up everywhere in town during a bishop’s visit. The custom of lighting a bonfire after the lantern procession represents the beginning of festivities. In former times, most of the work on the fields had been completed and now it was time to celebrate, drink and eat. Traditionally, a fat goose and sweet bread were served.
One legend says that St. Martin died after eating a whole goose at a single meal. Another legend says that Martin was hiding to avoid his election as Bishop of Tours, but chattering geese revealed his hiding place. The tradition of eating a “Martin’s goose” at this time of year has been kept. Many restaurants in the KMC will add Martin’s goose with dumplings and red cabbage to their menus.
Even on Christmas, Germans like to serve goose.
In Kaiserslautern, the lantern procession of St. Martin’s Church starts at 6 p.m. Sunday at St. Martinsplatz at the beginning of Steinstrasse and ends in front of the Rathaus, where St. Martin will divide his coat and the bonfire will be lit.
In Ramstein village, festivities will start at 6 p.m. Sunday in the Catholic church. Then the lantern procession with St. Martin on a horse accompanied by musicians will go through town. The St. Martin’s play will be preformed, the bonfire will be lit and pretzels and glühwein will be available.
In Landstuhl city, St. Martin’s parade will be held at 6 p.m. today with a play at Heilig-Geist-Kirche. It will end at the Altenzentrum (meeting place for senior citizens) with the fire and the sale of Martin’s pretzels, tea and glühwein.
In Otterbach, children and parents meet at 6 p.m. today at the Protestant church and walk over to the festgrounds, where the St. Martin’s play will be performed.
In the wine village of St. Martin, south of Neustadt, the Martinus wine fest is being celebrated today through Sunday. A hobby artist market will take place 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The Martin’s lantern procession with play is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. Sunday. Dahn will hold its traditional Martini market with vendors and a little carnival Sunday.
