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From The Who Knew Files ... A Weckmann, Lanterns and Children’s Singing on St. Martin’s Day!

© Sylvia Cochran

In the last article we learned about the somber occasions the month of November commemorates; there are the Seleenwoche (All Souls' Week) with the days of Aller Heiligen (All Saints/All Hallows) and Aller Seelen (All Souls), the remembrance of the Reichskristallnacht (crystal night), Volkstrauertag (Memorial Day), and Totensonntag (Sunday of the Dead). Some may now begin to wonder if there are any joyous occasions that Germans observe in November, and the answer is a resounding "yes"!!! One of the happiest occasions, for children of almost all ages, is Martinstag (St. Martin's Day).

In many ways, Martinstag (St. Martin's Day) is a hands-down favorite among German children. It is a holiday celebrated on November 11th, and while remembering the deeds of the saint, the part children love the most takes place on November 10, when they make and carry paper lanterns (1), and go from door to door singing (2) and gripschen (grabbing), which refers to their receiving candy, apples, and nuts from those in front of whose houses and businesses they sing.

The man whose feastday is celebrated on November 11, lived 317-397 AD. His life is one marked of generosity; he is known to have given away his military earnings (he was a soldier) in their entirety to needy farm families. On one such wintry day as he was returning to his home, a beggar stepped into his path, asking for alms. Martin had just given away his last penny, yet he considered it unacceptable and unworthy of a Christian to turn away from a man in need. After the briefest of deliberations, he drew his sword, took off his mantle, and cut it in half, giving the one half to the beggar, and keeping the other half so as not to die in the cold himself.

This and other deeds of active, hands-on generosity resulted in his being chosen as the successor to the Bishop of Tours. In his humility, Martin hid from those who carried the good news. It is said he hid in a goose-house, and the people of Tours had to look for him all day and during the night with lanterns, until they finally found him. At long last he accepted the nomination to the holy office.

German customs on this day are plentiful. As already mentioned, children will sing songs in his honor. For this occasion they will make lanterns that they carry while walking from house to house and business to business. Homeowners and business owners will honor St. Martin's generous spirit by rewarding the little singers with candy and other treats. Many communities will have a reenactment of the holy man's sharing his mantle with the beggar.

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