Just a few days after Jess arrived we attend the St. Martin's celebration in the old part of Oberursel. St. Martin's Day falls on November 11th and is the official start of the Carnival season (or Fasching, in Germany- the 11th minute of the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month). It is another example of the church combining Christian celebrations with pagan rituals (in this case, the last of the harvest time when new wine is ready to drink and animals are butchered for winter).
The night before, children meet (usually outside a church) and watch older children and adults act out the St. Martin's story. They sing songs and carry lanterns (now made with paper and battery operated lights). Then, they follow St. Martin (sometimes on a horse) through the town and end at a bon fire with hot chocolate, more songs, and sweets). We didn't stick around for the bon fire as we were cold and wet (common for outdoor events in Germany this time of year) and opted instead for hot and spicy Thai food!
St. Martin of Tours started out as a Roman solder and was later baptized and became a monk. He was a very good and kind man and eventually became the Bishop of Tours. The reenactments on St. Martin's eve usually depict a couple of famous scenes from his life. 1. He cut his cloak in half to share with a beggar during a snowstorm. He later dreamed about Jesus. 2. St. Martin didn't want to be the Bishop and tried to hide from the people who wanted to have him appointed. A flock of geese gave away his hiding spot in a barn and the goose is now the animal symbol of St. Martin and a favorite food for St. Martin's Day (that will teach the noisy bird).
The night before, children meet (usually outside a church) and watch older children and adults act out the St. Martin's story. They sing songs and carry lanterns (now made with paper and battery operated lights). Then, they follow St. Martin (sometimes on a horse) through the town and end at a bon fire with hot chocolate, more songs, and sweets). We didn't stick around for the bon fire as we were cold and wet (common for outdoor events in Germany this time of year) and opted instead for hot and spicy Thai food!
St. Martin of Tours started out as a Roman solder and was later baptized and became a monk. He was a very good and kind man and eventually became the Bishop of Tours. The reenactments on St. Martin's eve usually depict a couple of famous scenes from his life. 1. He cut his cloak in half to share with a beggar during a snowstorm. He later dreamed about Jesus. 2. St. Martin didn't want to be the Bishop and tried to hide from the people who wanted to have him appointed. A flock of geese gave away his hiding spot in a barn and the goose is now the animal symbol of St. Martin and a favorite food for St. Martin's Day (that will teach the noisy bird).As with all saints, St. Martin suffered an untimely death (I believe this is a requirement of sainthood). Irish tradition states that he was thrown into a mill stream and killed by the wheel. Apparently the Irish don't turn any wheels on this day (does this mean they don't drive?).
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