St. Martin's Lantern Parade

St. Martin was a Roman soldier who, when he saw a hungry beggar lying shivering from cold at the side of the road, cut his warm cape in two halves and handed one half to the beggar together with food.

St. Martin is not only a patron for the poor but also the patron for horses and therefore, in many  St. Martin parades, horses receive a blessing from the local priest when their owners bring them to the church.

The children walk in a parade on St. Martin's Day, with self-made or store bought lanterns and very often, a rider in St. Martin's costume with his horse is leading the parade. At the end of the parade, the children receive special St. Martin cookies or sugar pretzels as a symbol of sharing.

Those of my German expat friends who would like to participate in this custom, dear to many German children and parents, and all my American friends who want to join please be invited to participate on coming Saturday, November 8, when the South Bay Deutscher Schulvereinis holding their St. Martin parade at their school campus, the San Jose Christian School on 1300 Sheffield Avenue in Campbell.  There will be a little celebration afterwards with hot chocolate and cider.

The South Bay Deutscher Schulverein is a private weekend school which provides German language education for all ages from pre-schoolers to adults. My granddaughter attended one Kindergarten year and we all loved her getting familiar with her German roots. We will continue to keep in touch although the distance to Gilroy makes it hard to attend regularly. See you all at the parade!

Here is their information and a German St. Martin Song to practice with your kids:

St. Martin's Lantern Parade

Please mark your calendar and join us for our annual St. Martin's Fest and Lantern Parade on Saturday November 8th, 2014 at 6pm. Duration of the celebration is approx. 2 hours.

Ich geh mit meiner Laterne und meine Laterne mit mir.

Dort oben leuchten die Sterne und unten leuchten wir.

Mein Licht ist aus, wir gehen nach Haus

Rabimmel, rabammel, rabumm.