Local children honor St. Martin

  • Published
  • By Iris Reiff
  • 52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany --  Each November, local townspeople host a colorful torchlight procession in honor of St. Martin. "Sankt Martin ist ein guter Mann" (St. Martin is a good man) is only one of the many songs parents have been practicing with their children to prepare them for the procession.

Who is the man celebrated for his goodness every year?

According to legend, St. Martin was born early in the fourth century to a military officer in the military administration of the Emperor Constantine in Szombathel, Hungary. He led a good Christian life while growing up and then served his time in the Roman imperial army. Although other officers mistreated soldiers and slaves, St. Martin was kind and distributed what he could save from his pay to the poor.

While riding outside the gates of Amiens, he encouraged a freezing beggar who asked for help, but St. Martin had already given all his pay to the poor. He drew his sword, cut his tunic in two and gave half to the beggar.

The following night, Christ appeared to St. Martin and said, "What you have done to the least of my brothers, you have done to me."

St. Martin felt the Lord's love and was baptized. After serving two more years in the army, he retired with full honors. Although St. Martin was rather modest, his devotion, kindness and fairness were such that his fame spread throughout the country and he was soon appointed as Bishop of Tours in France for 25 years until he died at 82.

This year St. Martin's Day is Nov. 9, the same day as Veterans Day. The dates for celebrations vary from town to town and sometimes take place a day prior or later. Germans celebrate St. Martin Day with a procession where children carry candles or battery-operated lanterns through the town. In some towns, firemen lead the parade with torches in hand, followed by the town band and then a "St. Martin" on horseback, clad in the uniform of a Roman legionnaire. The children sing St. Martin songs. The colorfully illuminated procession ends with a huge bonfire. "St. Martin" then asks the children to follow his lifestyle and finally hands out large sugar pretzels.

In some towns, the traditional ceremony ends with an opportunity to win a goose, the popular "St. Martin's Gans," and other prizes, usually at a well-known spot in town, a hall or local fire station. Tickets for the raffle are usually sold at the door by members of the local fire departments. A limited number of tickets can also be purchased at the fire station prior to the raffle.

The goose became associated with St. Martin's Day because this time of the year is when the goose fattening period ends. After the summer harvest, farmers let the geese find their food on mowed fields. The only cost to the farmer is tending to the geese. But as soon as it gets cold, farmers sell or kill the superfluous geese. Parsons demanded geese as payment for the taxes due to them at this time and the custom developed into a tradition of eating goose on St. Martin's Day.

Team Eifel families are encouraged and welcome to participate in local St. Martin parades in either their town or any other village. People can ask their landlords or local mayors for details about the date, time and starting point of their town's procession. Since it often gets cold at night this time of the year, it's advisable to wear warm clothes.

Lanterns can be purchased at German stores now at low prices. They're usually available as animals, especially the St. Martin goose, moons, churches and other motifs. Some parents help their children make their own lanterns. Children who go to German kindergarten usually make them. Sometimes prizes are given away for the nicest homemade lanterns.

Local Saint Martin processions
· A St. Martin's procession takes place Nov. 9 at the Bitburg Elementary School South schoolyard "Grundschule Sued." Many school students from all over the area will participate. All children and their parents are invited to take part. The event starts at 6:30 p.m. All participating children get the traditional St. Martin brezel after the event.
· Spangdahlem village will host a Saint Martin procession Nov. 11 starting at 6:30 p.m. from Burgstrasse, the road leading towards the base from Dahlem.
· Speicher and Binsfeld will host a Saint Martin procession Nov. 11.
· A church service and procession takes place at the Bitburg Catholic St. Peter Kindergarten Nov. 6 starting at 5:30 p.m.
· Join the procession Nov. 6 at 6:30 p.m. at the Bitburg "Zuckerborn" Kindergarten.
· Take part in the procession Nov. 7 at 6 p.m. at the Bitburg "Altes Gymnasium" Kindergarten.
· Participate in the procession Nov. 8 at 5:30 p.m. at the Bitburg-Nord Elementary School. · Experience a procession Nov. 9 starting at 6:30 p.m. in Bitburg-Moetsch.
· A procession takes place Nov. 9 at 6:45 p.m. in Bitburg-Matzen.
· Take part in a procession Nov. 10 at 6 p.m. in Bitburg-Stahl.
· A procession takes place Nov. 10 at 6:30 p.m. in Bitburg-Masholder.
· Enjoy a procession Nov. 11 at 6 p.m. in Bitburg-Erdorf.
· A St. Martin's procession takes place Nov. 9 at 6 p.m. in Trier, starting at the Porta Nigra and moving toward St. Martins Church. The meeting point is the Elementary School (Grundschule) St. Paulin.
· A procession takes place Nov 12 at 6 p.m. from the Trier St. Paulus church.
· There is a, St. Martin's procession in the Trier-Ehrang suburb of Trier Nov. 9 at 5:30 p.m. from the St. Peter Church.