Local children honor Saint Martin with a torchlight procession
SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany-- Local children carry colorful lanterns as they march through the streets of Spangdahlem village in a past Saint Martin procession. This year, parades are scheduled to take place tonight through next week with the dates and times varying from town to town. In some towns, firefighters lead the parade with torches in hand, followed by the town band and a man portraying St. Martin, clad in the uniform of a Roman legionnaire, on horseback. The colorfully illuminated processions end with a huge bonfire. "St. Martin" then encourages the children and hands out large sugar pretzels. The Saint Martin parade is a perfect event for small children with their parents. Local villages invite the American neighbors to participate in this traditional local event. (U.S. Air Force photo by Iris Reiff)