Friday the 11th, we celebrated Saint Martin's Day in Germany. Saint Martin was a a Roman soldier who became a monk after being baptized as an adult. He eventually obtained sainthood from the Catholic Church for being a kind man who cut his cloak in half to share with a beggar during a snowstorm. In Germany it is tradition for kids to participate in a procession of paper lanterns in remembrance of St. Martin. They make their own little lanterns in school or kindergarten and then gather on city streets to sing songs about good old Marty and their lanterns. Often a man dressed as St. Martin with a long red cloak leads the parade on horseback. At Addy's school, parents were invited last week to make the laterns with their kids. It was a nice treat for Addy to have me come to her school! We participated in the parade, and marched to an area of town where there was yummy food, a bonfire, a band singing more St. Martin songs, and Gluwhein (a new favorite of mine!) Germans take every opportunity to drink at all occasions.
Here is Addy's school getting ready to participate in the parade:
After the parade at the bonfire. This is one of Addy's favorite friends, Sakari. She is the only other American girl in her class. They are quite attached!
Picture of her latern:
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