St Martin's Day Lantern Procession
"...Our lights shine bright on St. Martin's night!..."
The lantern procession tradition on St. Martin's Day, celebrated on November 11, is a cherished tradition honoring St. Martin of Tours (397 AD). For centuries, Christians from Estonia to Spain, Sweden to Italy, have commemorated the Saint who shared his wealth with the poor. In Germany, children make lanterns and parade through the streets, singing songs. The lanterns shining in the dark are often interpreted as symbolizing the light of Christ, a particularly appropriate image for the beginning of the Nativity Fast (November 15th). Traditionally the lanterns were carved out of newly harvested squash gourds, and illuminated with a candle—the origin of our jack-o-lantern—but can also be made of paper or jars. St Martin is a beloved Saint celebrated throughout the world and is known for his merciful compassion on the needy. St. Martin's Day is celebrated on November 11th in the West and November 12th in the Eastern Orthodox Church.
Why the two dates?
I have a theory, but don’t quote me on this one. But in the East, we typically celebrate feast days the evening before the feast. So since his feast is November 12th, it would be very common to celebrate the evening before (November 11th), so I think it just became widely accepted that his feast day was on November 11th, since that is when he is celebrated. Again, I have not confirmed this with any one official, but that is my running theory!
Scroll to learn more about how to host your own Martinmas Lantern Walk!
Our First St Martin’s Day:
While my husband was at seminary at St Vladimir’s in Yonkers, NY, we were introduced to Martinmas (St Martin’s Day) the day we commemorate the life of St Martin of Tours. To this day it is one of my fondest memories of seminary. I loved making paper lanterns together the week before, and then on his feast day, we would gather together to read the story “Snow on Martinmas” by Heather Sleigtholm and then all the kids on campus would illuminate their lanterns with tea lights and put on their heavy coats and we would walk around singing the St Martin Day carol and “This Little Light of Mine” to all the neighbors. I can still see my tiny little Elizabeth in her stroller holding her lantern as we followed all the kids from home to home. After we made our way around campus, we ended the night with dessert and warm drinks and fellowship. It was a yearly tradition while we attended and I intend to continue that tradition with my children, and perhaps even pass it on to some of you!
How to Organize a Martinmas Lantern Walk:
(1) Choose a time and location and invite friends to join you! Either plan to make the lanterns together or plan to bring your own to the walk. After each Martinmas walk, we organized a dessert potluck and warm beverages like hot chocolate and hot cider, so be sure to coordinate your fellowship time afterwards too! St. Martin's Day is celebrated on November 11th in the West and November 12th in the Eastern Orthodox Church.
(2) Create or buy a lantern! You can plan to make your own DIY lanterns using a recycled jar, paper, contact paper, or brown paper bag (see Pinterest for tons of ideas). We’ve made ours both with the paper machete/balloon method and we’ve done them with decorated mason jars. The possibilities are endless! just make sure you have a handle (either string or stick) and a tea light to go with it. Again, we’ve done real candles and electric ones in the past. Or you can buy some nice ones from Amazon that we’ve used at our Parish each year.
(3) Read the story of his life - We love “Snow on Martinmas” by Heather Sleightholm but you can also listen to "Saint Martin of Tours" from Saints: Lives and Illuminations, written by Ruth Sanderson, on the podcast “Reading from Under the Grapevine through Ancient Faith. Check out the November Printable featuring St Martin.
(4) Print and Distribute the song document (you can print it up from HERE) - During the walk, we would sing the “Saint Martin’s Day Song (Rabimmel, Rabammel, Rabumm)” and “This little light of mine” as we walked around. My fellow seminarian wife, Alisha Solheim, generously created this document last year (God Bless You) so now I can share it with you! You can listen to it in German for the tune HERE and find the lyrics translated into English HERE.
(5) Grab your coats and lanterns and tea lights and walk around to your neighbors caroling, alternating between “St Martin’s Day song” and “This little light of mine”. End your night with warm drinks and desserts and fellowship with one another.
(6) Consider donating warm coats/jackets to a local shelter in remembrance of St Martin. If you remember from his story, he saw a beggar shivering at the gates of Amiens, and he cut his cloak in two and gave the half to the beggar. Later that night, Our Lord Jesus Christ appeared to him wearing St Martin’s cloak. He is the perfect example of Matthew 25:40-45 “I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’”
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Story of St Martin, Bishop of Tours
Saint Martin the Merciful, Bishop of Tours, was born at Sabaria (modern Hungary) in 316. Since his father was a Roman officer, he also was obliged to serve in the army. Martin did so unwillingly, for he considered himself a soldier of Christ, though he was still a catechumen.
At the gates of Amiens, he saw a beggar shivering in the severe winter cold, so he cut his cloak in two and gave half to the beggar. That night, the Lord Jesus Christ appeared to the saint wearing Martin’s cloak. He heard the Savior say to the angels surrounding Him, “Martin is only a catechumen, but he has clothed Me with this garment.” The saint was baptized soon after this, and reluctantly remained in the army.
Two years later, the barbarians invaded Gaul and Martin asked permission to resign his commission for religious reasons. The commander charged him with cowardice. Saint Martin demonstrated his courage by offering to stand unarmed in the front line of battle, trusting in the power of the Cross to protect him. The next day, the barbarians surrendered without a fight, and Martin was allowed to leave the army.
He traveled to various places during the next few years, spending some time as a hermit on an island off Italy. He became friendly with Saint Hilary, Bishop of Poitiers (January 14), who made Martin an exorcist. After several years of the ascetic life, Saint Martin was chosen to be Bishop of Tours in 371. As bishop, Saint Martin did not give up his monastic life, and the place where he settled outside Tours became a monastery. In fact, he is regarded as the founder of monasticism in France. He conversed with angels, and had visions of Saints Peter and Paul (June 29) and of other saints. He is called the Merciful because of his generosity and care for the poor, and he received the grace to work miracles.
After a life of devoted service to Christ and His Church, the saint fell ill at Candes, a village in his diocese, where he died on November 8, 397. He was buried three days later (his present Feast) at Tours. During the Middle Ages, many Western churches were dedicated to Saint Martin, including Saint Martin’s in Canterbury, and Saint Martin-in-the-Fields in London.
In 1008, a cathedral was built at Tours over the relics of Saint Martin. This cathedral was destroyed in 1793 during the French Revolution, together with the relics of Saint Martin and Saint Gregory of Tours (November 17). A new cathedral was built on the site many years later. Some fragments of the relics of Saint Martin were recovered and placed in the cathedral, but nothing remains of Saint Gregory’s relics.
Saint Martin’s name appears on many Greek and Russian calendars. His commemoration on October 12 in the Russian calendar appears to be an error, since ancient sources give the November date.
St Martin’s Day Song
Here is the St Martin’s Day Song Sheet that my fellow seminarian wife, Alisha Solheim, generously created last year (God Bless You) so now I can share it with you! You can print the document HERE. You can listen to it in German for the tune HERE and find the lyrics translated into English HERE. During the walk, we would sing the “Saint Martin’s Day Song (Rabimmel, Rabammel, Rabumm)” and “This little light of mine” as we walked around.
I have such fond memories of our time at Seminary in New York, celebrating St Martin’s Day with the community. I hope to share this traditions with others so that perhaps it can be something you can enjoy with your children and communities as well, as a way to bring Christ into your homes through these fun and edifying traditions. I hope you have a fun, memorable, and enriching celebration!
-Khouria Destinie