St. Martin's Day/Laternenumzug - The German American School of ...

GSP – St. Martin’s Day/Laternenumzug
German American School of Portland
3900 SW Murray Blvd, Beaverton, OR 97005
Telephone: 503.626.9089, Facsimile: 503.626.9730
E-Mail: info@gspdx.org
Dear GSP Community,
It is time to think about our annual St. Martin’s Day Parade on November 8 th . Many of you are probably
wondering if, or when, your child will be making a lantern in class To make sure everyone can come
prepared to the parade we have put together some helpful information.
Preschool will make the lanterns during a Parent Breakfast, Kindergarten and First Grade will spend
a morning with their teachers and make them together (with a couple of parent helpers).
2 nd and 3 rd graders will make them at school.
The remaining grade school students have the opportunity to be super creative at home and make
their own or bring last year’s lantern.
Please note that GSP will not be able to provide electric lantern sticks. However, they can be ordered at
germanplaza.com.
If you would like to know how to create your own lantern and/or lantern stick, or are curious about the
history of St. Martin, read on for more information.
We hope the information we have provided is helpful and hope to see many of you at the parade this year!

Directions:
Lantern made out of a balloon, tissue paper and
wallpaper adhesive*
‣ Blow up a balloon to the desired size, tie a secure knot.
‣ Tear or cut lots of tissue paper of one, or different colors, into 1‐2 inch pieces.
‣ Mix wallpaper adhesive, (following their directions) and apply to a section on the
balloon. Stick the paper pieces onto the clue and let the pieces overlap. Smooth out
around the edges with more glue. Apply tissue paper in more sections all the way
around the balloon, but leave about 2 inches around the knot. To avoid the balloon
from rolling around, you may place it into a bowl while working. After the first layer is
completed, let it dry for several hours. Repeat with three to four more layers, and let
dry completely. Pop the balloon and cut the edge evenly all the way around.
‣ Poke a hole on each side of lantern to affix a wire hanger where you can later attach
the lantern stick.
*As an alternative to using wall paper adhesive for this project, you may dilute white Elmer’s glue with water and follow
the directions above.
You can also find other techniques and styles of lanterns at
http://kidscrafts.suite101.com/article.cfm/how_to_make_a_lantern.
Link provided with permission from the author.

Lantern Sticks
Materials‐
1 wooden dowel 2’ long (hardware store)
1 foot of cord or heavy string
1 light stick or very tiny flashlight (Party City or marine store)
Drill to make a hole in dowel, if desired
Step 1‐If you are handy with power tools, drill a hole large enough for the cord to
pass through in the end of the dowel. Be careful not to split the dowel!
Otherwise, you can just tie the cord around one end of the dowel, and maybe
add a little duct tape on top to avoid it slipping.
Step 2‐To the other end of the cord, attach your glow stick or flashlight. Some
glow sticks have a hole to hang from a cord, so do some little flashlights. Once
your child brings home their lantern, you can adjust the length of the cord so that
the light is inside the lantern when the lantern hangs over the end of the pole.
Step 3‐You may want to use a little tape to attach the lantern more securely on
the pole so it doesn’t slide up and down, or you can also tie it on.

St. Martin's Day
Every year on November 11, German children celebrate St Martin's Day as the start of Carnival season. In
many regions children walk through the streets singing special songs. Sometimes they perform a little play
with a very specific piece of Martin’s life. It is the story about how he meets a beggar on a cold night and,
because he feels sorry for him, cuts his cloak in half to share it with the beggar. That is the legend of St.
Martin, but who was he really
St. Martin the Roman Soldier Martin was born in 316 a.d. as the son of a Roman Officer in what is now
Hungary. He was raised in Pavia, Italy where he joined the army at age 15 as a soldier and later became an
officer. Even during his military career he was known as a very compassionate man. When, on a cold
winter’s day, he encountered a freezing beggar, he took his sword, split his wide cloak in two and gave the
beggar half. The following night he had a dream where the beggar revealed himself as Jesus Christ. After
this experience he decided to get baptized, left the military service and went to seek the Bishop Hilarus in
the French town of Poitiers, who became his teacher.
St. Martin – The Bishop Because Martin was so compassionate, he was very popular with the people.
They begged him to become Bishop of the town of Tours. A legend tells the story of Martin feeling
unworthy of that honor and hiding out in a goose stall. However, the geese made so much noise that
Martin was found – and as punishment Martin had the geese slaughtered and cooked. That is perhaps the
reason that in some regions people eat a “Martinsgans” “Martinsgoose” on November 11 th . Martin
eventually became Bishop and remained so for nearly 30 years. During that time it is said he healed the sick
and performed numerous miracles. When he died at the age of almost 80, people came from near and far
to attend his funeral – Martin had become famous.
St. Martin – The Saint Martin was bestowed sainthood by the pope and is now the Patron Saint of many
vocations. For vintners, barrel makers, farriers, weavers, Tailors, shepherds, hat makers and mill workers. In
addition he also protects beggars and soldiers – and all pets. But why do you walk around with a lantern on
St. Martin’s Day There could be two reasons:
First: Often people held candle light vigils at Martin’s grave, which could have developed into Lantern
parades. Another origin of the Lantern tradition could be rooted in the yearly routine of farmers: For
people around Martini, around November 11 th , light and fire became more important again. It got dark very
early and the wood stoves were put back into service. In addition, farmers finished tending to their fields in
the beginning of November. As thanks for the harvest, fires were lit on the fields after harvest time.
Children made torches out of straw and paper, or “Trullichter”, which were hollowed out gourds and
pumpkins. Then they made their way through town, asking neighbors for fruit and pastries. That is how the
modern day Lantern parade could have developed.
The Songs There are many songs that the children sing; here is one, with an English translation:
Ich geh' mit meiner Laterne
Und meine Laterne mit mir.
Dort oben leuchten die Sterne,
Hier unten, da leuchten wir.
(Mein Licht ist aus,
Wir gehn nach Haus,
Rabimmel, rabammel, rabum.)
I'm walking with my lantern
And my lantern goes with me.
Above the stars are shining,
and we are shining below.
(My light has gone out,
We're going home,
rabimmel, rabammel, rabum)

St. Martin ‐ wer war das
Jedes Jahr am 11. November gibt es einen Gedenktag für einen ganz bestimmten Heiligen: Für Sankt Martin.
In vielen Gegenden ziehen Kinder mit Laternen durch die Straßen und singen Martinslieder. Manche führen
ein kleines Theaterstück auf, mit einer ganz bestimmten Szene aus Martins Leben. Es ist die Geschichte, als
er in einer kalten Nacht einem Bettler begegnet und ihm aus Mitleid ein Stück von seinem Mantel
abschneidet. Diese Geschichte kennen wir alle. Aber wer war dieser Martin eigentlich Und wie ist er ein so
berühmter Heiliger geworden
St. Martin – der römische Soldat Martin wurde im Jahr 316 n. Chr. als Sohn eines römischen Offiziers in
Pannonien ‐ im heutigen Ungarn ‐ geboren. Aufgewachsen ist er in Pavia in Italien. Mit fünfzehn Jahren ging
er zur Armee und wurde Soldat, und bald darauf Offizier. Schon während seiner gesamten Armeezeit war
Martin ein sehr hilfsbereiter Mensch. Als er an einem kalten Wintertag an einem hungernden und frierenden
Bettler vorbeiritt, teilte er seinen weiten Mantel mit seinem Schwert und schenkte dem Bettler die eine
Hälfte. In der folgenden Nacht erschien ihm der Bettler im Traum und gab sich als Jesus Christus zu
erkennen! Nach diesem Erlebnis ließ Martin sich taufen. Er verließ den Militärdienst und ging in die
französische Stadt Poitiers zu Bischof Hilarius, der sein Lehrer wurde.
St Martin – der Bischoff Da Martin so ein hilfsbereiter Mensch war, wurde er bei der Bevölkerung sehr
beliebt. Die Leute baten ihn, Bischof der Stadt Tours zu werden. Eine Legende erzählt davon, daß Martin sich
dazu nicht würdig genug fühlte und sich in einem Gänsestall vor dem Volk versteckte. Die Gänse in diesem
Stall schnatterten aber so laut, daß sie Martin verrieten – und zur Strafe ließ Martin sie dann braten. Daher
kommt vielleicht auch der Brauch, daß man am 11. November in manchen Gegenden eine Martinsgans isst.
Martin wurde schließlich doch noch Bischof und blieb fast 30 Jahre im Amt. In dieser Zeit hat er angeblich
zahlreiche Wundertaten und Heilungen vollbracht. Als er mit fast 80 Jahren starb, kamen die Leute von nah
und fern zu seiner Beerdigung – denn Martin war sehr berühmt geworden.
St. Martin – der Heilige Martin wurde vom Papst heiliggesprochen und ist nun der Schutzpatron für viele
Berufe. Für Winzer, Fassmacher, Huf‐ und Waffenschmiede, Weber, Schneider, Bürstenbinder, Gerber,
Hirten, Hutmacher und Müller. Er beschützt außerdem die Bettler und die Soldaten – und alle Hautiere. Aber
warum geht man am Sankt‐Martins‐Tag mit einer Laterne spazieren Dafür kann es zwei Gründe geben:
Erstens: die Leute haben am Grab des heiligen Martin sehr oft Lichterprozessionen gemacht – daraus
könnten sich die Laternenumzüge entwickelt haben.
Eine andere Wurzel des Laternenbrauchs könnte im Jahresablauf der Bauern liegen: Um Martini, also um
den 11. November herum, wurde das Licht und das Feuer für die Menschen wieder wichtiger. Es wurde
wieder sehr früh dunkel und man hat zum ersten Mal den Ofen eingeheizt. Außerdem haben die Bauern
Anfang November die Arbeit auf den Feldern beendet. Zum Dank für die Ernte hat man auf den
abgeernteten Feldern Feuer entzündet. Die Kinder haben an dem Feuer Fackeln aus Stroh und Papier
entzündet, oder sogenannte "Trullichter", das waren ausgehöhlte Rüben und Kürbisse. Mit diesen Lichtern
sind sie dann durch die Orte gezogen, um Obst und Gebäck zu erbetteln. Daraus könnten sich unsere
heutigen Laternenumzüge entwickelt haben.