Growing up in the United States, I have to admit that St. Martin’s Day wasn’t on my radar. Aside from a friend or two who attended a Waldorf school (part of an educational system based on Rudolf Steiner’s philosophies), where the holiday is traditionally celebrated as Martinmas, this saint’s feast day didn’t receive much attention. Since moving to Bavaria over a decade ago due to my husband’s job, and having children of our own, though, it’s been a rather different story: St. Martin’s Day is a big deal in this region. From lanterns to mulled wine to special songs, I’ve witnessed lovely annual celebrations ever since moving to this part of the world.
First things first, though: Who was St. Martin, and what were his deeds? St. Martin was born around 316 A.D. in what would now be modern-day Hungary. Raised by pagan parents with a high-ranking soldier father, Martin and his family moved to Pavia, Italy for his father’s career. St. Martin was forced to serve in the army as a teenager. During his time in the Roman army, he was not content with military life and started to learn about Christianity and its promotion of peace. Whenever possible, he tried to live a righteous and charitable lifestyle.
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The most famous legend about St. Martin states that when he was stationed in the land of Gaul, he found a cold beggar dressed in rags alongside the road. St. Martin was deeply concerned for this man’s well-being in the frigid temperatures, and finding that the only thing he had to offer was his own clothing, he took off his cloak and cut it in half. He then proceeded to give half to the beggar and later experienced a vision of Jesus wearing the half of the cloak he had given away. Shortly afterwards, St. Martin chose to be baptized, left military service, and dedicated his life to Christianity, ultimately forming a monastic community. Today, St. Martin is the patron saint of (among others) the poor, winemakers, tailors, soldiers, and conscientious objectors.
St. Martin’s Day takes place annually on November 11, and in historically Catholic regions in central Europe, the celebrations are memorable. At my children’s daycares and preschools over the years, the kids craft lanterns for the holiday. Traditionally, children in places such as Bavaria, eastern Austria, and parts of Hungary and Slovakia would indeed use real candles for the lanterns (these days powered with electric lights for safety purposes).
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A typical treat for children in our part of the world for St. Martin’s Day is a goose-shaped pastry, made with cheese and sweet dough. They’re a big hit and I can definitely recommend them as a delicious annual family tradition. Apparently, a squawking goose once betrayed St. Martin while he was hiding in a stall, so a goose is also frequently eaten as part of a St. Martin’s dinner. Funnily enough, he is also the patron saint of geese!
Wine season also kicks off at this time of year, and St. Martin, being the patron saint of winemakers as well, gets his own special wine in countries like the Czech Republic and Slovenia. I’ve enjoyed trying some of the different commemorative wines, and if you find yourself in central Europe in November, it’s definitely worth seeking out a St. Martin’s wine.
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There’s something truly magical about watching children celebrate this saint’s day here in central Europe. In the early evening hours when it’s already dark out, you’ll see streams of children with their handcrafted lanterns singing songs like “Sankt Martin” (Saint Martin) and “Ich geh mit meiner laterne” (“I go with my lantern”) around the neighborhood. Some churches feature a community member playing the part of St. Martin while riding on a real horse. If you have the opportunity to take part in a local celebration, I can only recommend it — the community spirit of sharing and compassion is something very special to experience.
Even though St. Martin lived in the fourth century, his deeds can still serve to inspire us today. Though he came from a relatively privileged background, St. Martin chose to use his life to help others in need, such as advocating on behalf of heretics condemned to death. He held fast to his moral principles, and the story of the cloak and the beggar can be a wonderful parable of how to meet others’ needs in the moment. As we head into the darker months of the year, St. Martin’s life story can provide a moment of light and reflection during this season.
