Did you know that 11th November is Martinmas?

The feast day of St Martin, Martin of Tours.

This is a lovely book that tells the story of Saint Martin of Tours and explains how Martinmas is celebrated.

When I was a little girl living in Germany we used to make lanterns and go on a lantern parade in our village. The parade ended with a bonfire and singing and we would be given sweet treats: the Weckmann! This is a sweet bread roll shaped like a man, similar to a gingerbread man. Typically the Weckmann has raisin eyes and a white clay pipe in his mouth. This year I have taught my children about Martinmas and this weekend we are going to make lanterns and have our own lantern festival in the garden.

Saint Martin was a Roman soldier. One cold day he passed a beggar on the road. Martin took his cloak and cut it and gave some to the beggar to keep him warm. That night he dreamed of the beggar who revealed himself to be Jesus. Martin decided to leave the army and become a monk. He was such a good man that he was made bishop. Saint Martin is the patron saint of horsemen, the poor, soldiers and tailors. Fitting then that Martinmas is the same day as the armistice was signed at the end of World War One. Martinmas has long been celebrated at the end of the harvest season with advent on our doorstep and Christmas on the horizon.

A festival of light and remembrance and thanksgiving.

“For on that day, on the 11th hour, of the 11th day of the 11th month, an Armistice was signed, ending one of the bloodiest wars this world has ever known. On the day, Saint Martin’s Day, the world’s soldiers put down their weary swords and prayed for peace. And on that day, their prayer was answered.”