St. Martin's Day

Physical State: cold
Stage notes: sorting through St. Martin's plunder at the Bonnets

On the 11th day of the 11th month at exactly 11 minutes past 11 o'clock a.m. St. Martin's day is celebrated. St. Martin was a Roman soldier who was known for his extreem generosity. One legend says that he tore his cloak in half to clothe a poor man in the cold of winter. Because there are so many children (and perhaps not so many horses), the day is actually spread throughout the week. Jonathan's school went out tonight. About 1500 people, carrying self-made lanterns, paraded through the streets led by ''St. Martin'' on a horse. They sang about the generosity of St. Martin and the procession concluded with the lighting of a bonfire and eating Weckmann(see previous post). After all of this, the kids roam from house to house and recite verses or sing for candy. The symbol of St. Martin's day is the goose. There is a legend claiming that geese betrayed him with their gabbling when he tried to hide in a stall to avoid being appointed as a bishop. As a result, the birds are traditionally butchered on this day.