St Martin’s Day is celebrated in Europe on November 11. I’ve been fortunate to experience it three different times over the last four years. It’s kind of like our Halloween, but without the scary aspects and costumes. Kids carry lanterns made from everyday objects. They used colored paper and light them up with flashlights. In the old days it was candles and sugar beets. They go from house to house, singing St Martin’s Day songs and getting candy.
This celebration was the foundation of the Lighthouse Parade, which we had when I was growing up. It was a magical evening. Kids made houses from cardboard boxes, put candles inside, and pulled them around the circle at the old McCormick Seminary in Chicago. Some of the lighthouses were spectacular. I remember one that was the John Hancock building, and another that was a chapel complete with stained glass. All of the houses were like stained glass, though. One of the professor’s wives had started the tradition, bringing the idea from Germany.
The other fun part was when one of the lighthouses caught fire, and the dads rushed in with brooms and buckets of water. A child would be crying, but, I am ashamed to say, some of us liked the excitement of flames erupting unexpectedly and lighting up the autumn evening.
I know that some St Martin’s Day lanterns would catch fire, too, but those days are long gone. Long live LED lights
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St Martin’s Day
Kids are gathering in the street
There are friends you’re bound to meet
Sing a song and get a treat
On St Martin’s Day.
Lanterns hanging from some twine
A parade moves in a line
Colored lights that dance and shine
On St Martin’s day.
11th of November
Nights are getting long
This ancient celebration
Fills the dark with light and song
When the harvest was complete
Pork and apples, wine and wheat
Light candles in a sugar beet.
On St Martin’s Day.
St Martin saw a begging man
Shivering on the path
He cut his own coat right in two
And then he gave the poor man half
Whether you are rich or poor
Or come from a distant shore
You are welcome at the door
On St Martin’s Day.
Kids are gathering in the street
On this evening life is sweet.
Sing a song and get a treat
On St Martin’s Day.
© Stuart Stotts 2018
The children need to be singing YOUR song, Stuart! Thanks for sharing.