Displaced Beachbums

St. Martin’s Day Parade 2001

St. Martin’s Day Parade 2002

One of my favorite traditions while living in Germany was the annual St. Martin’s Day parade which took place every November. When FG started kindergarten in 2001, she was able to participate in her first parade. The children take weeks making their own lanterns and then on St. Martin’s day at sundown, they march in a parade through town re-enacting the legend of St. Martin.

The legend (and parade) goes something like this: A knight, wearing a red coat, on horseback, rides through the town with the children following behind with their lanterns and singing songs about St. Martin. There is a beggar walking alongside the horse. Once they arrive at the kindergarten, where the bonfire is, the beggar asks the knight (St. Martin) for help. St. Martin takes off his coat, cuts it in half and gives the beggar half of the coat to keep warm. Then, St. Martin gives the beggar bread for his hunger. More songs are sung by the children and it is a festive time for all.

After the play is done, everyone enjoys warm glühwine and bread. Every year, it was so cold and the glühwine was very warm and tasty.

The first year FG participated in the parade, she was only three and there was a REAL candle in her lantern. Needless to say, I worried the entire time about these fire hazards. Thankfully, no one burst into flames that year so I was much less neurotic during subsequent parades.

Each year, she made a new lantern which we still have. The kindergarten teachers were always so creative and patient when helping the children make their lanterns.  We’re  going to get the lanterns out of storage tomorrow for St. Martin’s Day and light them at dusk ~ just for old times sake.