The Feast of St. Martin on November 11 is celebrated in style in parts of Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Italy and The Netherlands. The legend is that Martin was a Roman Soldier and while riding home he saw a beggar on the side of road. Playing the part of the Good Samaritian, he gave the beggar his warm red cloak.
There are many organized parades (though, I guess it is more like a procession) where the children have a lantern and walk behind St. Martin on his horse singing the traditional St. Martin songs. Luckily we go to music class, so Blaise and I learned the songs this year and he sang along! We walked through our town and ended at the newly opened town square with an address from the mayor and a sweet bread roll for all the kids. Another fun fall tradition :)
Blaise showing off his lantern:
Kate didn't want to ride in the buggy anymore, ugh:
Our lovely lighted procession:
2 comments:
I will never forget when Joel was in Germany and told me about taking a walk through a park at night and then seeing a bunch of lanterns and a guy on a horse coming toward him. ;) It sounds like a neat tradition!
Love your pictures. :) I remember doing this with my little friend Leah in Idstein when she was 3 or 4!
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