Martinstag - St. Martin’s Day

The feast day of St. Martin is very popular in Austria!

Story of St. Martin:

History and Legends

St. Martin was a Roman soldier who was baptized as an adult. He lived in the 4th century and was the founder of monasteries in and around Tours in France. He is also known as St. Martin of Tours. He later became the bishop of Tours and is the patron saint of harvest and the poor.

Legends concerning St. Martin are more abundant than historic facts.

Apparently Martin was a very kind man who did many good deeds. The most famous legend about him is that one freezing cold winter night, he crossed the path of an old beggar who was only wearing rags. Immediately, Martin cut his own cloak in two and gave one half to the beggar to prevent him from freezing to death. It turned out that the beggar was Jesus.

Another legend tells us that Martin was also very modest and humble. He was elected bishop of Tours but didn’t really think he deserved the honor. He hid in a farmyard, hoping that he wouldn’t be discovered and anointed as bishop. But the geese gave him away with the racket they made.

(https://www.brighthubeducation.com/studying-a-language/53555-history-and-vocabulary-of-st-martins-day-in-germany/)

Here, our children in Kindergarten make lanterns - they also call this celebration day “Laternenfest.”

The Kindergarten would have put on a play about St. Martin for the parents to see, but due to Covid regulations they didn’t. So instead, the Kartause families gathered in front of St. Francis dorm for a bonfire, singing, a lantern walk, cake and punch! Isaac wore a cloak to represent being St. Martin. And Francis sang the songs as loud as he possibly could. It was a beautiful celebration!

More about St. Martin’s Day here:

https://youtu.be/hwK_NmPB5uY

https://www.catholicicing.com/happy-martinmas/