On 11 November Christians commemorate Martin of Tours, a Roman soldier who became canonized after his death in 397 A.D. He is best remembered for cutting his coat in half with his sword and giving one half to a beggar who was clad only in … Continue reading Saint Martin’s Day or Martinmas
and my lantern is walking with me.
These were taken on 11 November – the day when in many areas in Germany children are celebrating St Martin with a lantern procession. It’s a predominantly catholic feast and it has been in the news during the past years because in some nursery schools they have started calling it simply “lantern festival” or “festival of lights“.
The title are the words of one of the songs that are sung while walking with the lights.
#18 square lights Laternenlichter / Lichterfest / St Martin’s
In Germany (and many other European country) Saint Martin’s Day is celebrated on or around 11 November. In our area there are processions of children carrying lanterns, singing songs like “Laterne, Laterne, Sonne, Mond und Sterne”. In larger towns a rider dressed up as a Roman soldier proceeds the children, in remembrance of the legend that St. Martin cut his coat in half to share with a poor man who was clothed in rags. At the end of the procession children are rewarded with a sweet pastry, either a pretzel or in the form of a man. In some areas the children then ring on doorbells to collect sweets comparable to Halloween customs.
The lanterns are often made by the children themselves in class, although some are oviously bought.
For Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Lights.
For more photos with lights of all kind, click here.
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