The lantern procedure yesterday was lovely! I didn't take many photos as I was occupied "to live fully in the moment" - meaning: chasing after one or the other (or the other!) of the triplets. There were about 50 children, but many more grown-ups.
Electric light bulbs in the lanterns - that was less "cozy" as in Olden Times, though very calming because in Olden Times wishing didn't always still help and some lanterns got up in flames.
Yesterday luckily that didn't happen to any of all those masterpieces, very beautiful or bizzare and mostly self handcrafted lanterns - the triplets had funny hedgehogs, we saw owls, sheep, fishes and whatsoever.
But no: this one was "the real thing".
Though this real thing was very nervous.
Same as Saint Martin, who was a five year old boy in a red cape wearing a golden helmet - the parson told the story - St. Martin draw his sword - and after three attempts managed to cut the cape into two parts - one he donated to the beggar.
We all sang loud the lantern procession songs - "I go with my lantern/ and my lantern goes with me. / Above us shine the stars/ and below we are shining." We were accompanied by a real huge Bavarian brass band - and looked up to the stars, and marched a long way to a farm, where they served warm St. Martin's crescent rolls and drinks.
Dear Britta - I was totally unaware of exactly what St. Martin's Day represents, and noted that it tends to be a celebration mainly held in your country and also that of the Flying Dutchman's country.
ReplyDeleteI imagine that the triplets loved it - being out in the dark, carrying laterns, and enjoying the excitment of seeing a pigmy pony clad in a red blanket along with the young boy wearing a red cape and a golden helmet. Sounds like a really magical occasion.
Dear Rosemary, here in Germany it is a long tradition - though I think that many do not know why it is celebrated. Same with the "Martins Gans" - the goose that many eat at St Martin's day: it is said that geese were quacking very loud and thus acted as traitors when St. Martin tried to hide not to become bishop of Tours (he wanted to live as a hermit - but: no way).
DeleteYes, the triplets were highly interested - and showed me the stars above and their lanterns, and the light in the church we passed by.
I had forgotten about St Martin and the cloak. So nice to celebrate Martinmas with a procession.
ReplyDeleteI love that cloak-story: good to give, but also to remain reasonable. Here in the village with little hills - and the early darkness in the evening - the walk was very sensuous - and lovely music we had too. And the grown-ups knew the texts!
DeleteI am so happy you shared this. Even though it is dark I can see Santa's cap and the pony. How exciting.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Emma - and I am glad that it is possible to catch a glimpse of the pony. When my son was little, in Hildesheim they had a huge horse and a grown-up man as St. Martin - but those frightened the children almost.
DeleteMy comment I think went to Spam.
ReplyDelete"St Martin, the patron saint of St Martins-in-the-Fields just off Trafalgar Square in London, the church which helps so many living in London who are down and out. The Roman soldier who cut his cloak in two and shared with the beggar. This epitomises the work of St Martins. The lanterns in your photograph are lovely and by clicking and enlarging the photo I was able to see it all very clearly. Thank you Britta for sharing the story."
ReplyDeleteDear Rachel, thank you that you gave me the tip to look into the spam file (I do it often, but that tool is really a nuisance). Had to copy it - although I ticked "ok" it did not appear here, sorry.
Trank you for enlighten me about St. Martins-in-the-Fields - I have sometimes been there in the vault canteen and liked it very much. And I have a few records of the Academy St.Martins-in-the-Fields.
You made me want VERY much to go to London again - as I start to make plans for next year, maybe that will happen?
How magical Britta ..... did the triplets love it ? XXXX
ReplyDeleteThey enjoyed it very much, Jackie - but I believe they enjoy many things, and that was one among others. Their world still is a magical one. XXXX
DeleteWhat a magical evening for you all, dear Britta! As I was raised a flaming heathen I didn't know anything about St. Martin (and thus never even wondered about nor even connect the dots about St. Martins-in-the-Fields) but I find so many of these strong traditions such as you partook in utterly charming. The miniature pony, the 'Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose'-esque candles and proper brass band (do we call them oompah bands?) and a bit of rugging-up in the autumn evening - delightful!
ReplyDeleteDear Pip, though the Church organised the lantern procession I do believe that many people (us included) joined it as a magical ritual - not a religious feast. I do not know about the village- people - have never watched whether the church is full on Sunday. My education in religion was strange - I might tell in another blog - I was offered the whole abundance of many religions, but with uninterested whateverism :-)
DeleteI do love the rituals - thus I prefer entering a Catholic church with frankincense and candles (and feel cheated when they nowadays use LED-chandles) - in short: in my view the Catholics are more sensuous. And more lenient - an aunt of husband (he comes from Southern Germany, thus Catholic) said: "Britta, who often goes on a pilgrimage seldom becomes blest." (And that im broad Rhenish :-)
Catholics are often more relaxed - "To let five be an even number" is a saying of their philosophy.
About oompah bands I do not know - here there were horns and tubas and trumpets and a lot of shining loud brass.
I loved this story and can picture you dashing about making sure the triplets were safe in that darkness. . . . . how different nights are at this time of year. I actually love the dark coming earlier - yesterday was warmish and I sat on the porch with a cozy throw and a glass of red wine BEFORE dinner, just breathing in evening nature's fragrances as the sun disappeared and the air cooled. The lanterns in the garden turned on and it was so beautiful. . . . . . .then in to finish up the cooking!
ReplyDeleteDear Mary, thank you! Yes - with three little ones it is never easy - though both parents and a friend of the family were there.
DeleteI love your description of the evening coming near - and think us very lucky that we can and do enjoy these atmospheres (it is an art to be able to notice - and an art to enjoy it).
Beautiful!
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