The kids and I took the bus into downtown Erlangen on Saturday, November 11, to participate in the St. Martin's Day parade. A Roman soldier on horseback led the procession of children carrying paper lanterns illuminated by either candles or battery-powered lights. A marching band followed and everyone sang songs about St. Martin or their lanterns. The only one I knew begins, "Laterne, Laterne, Sonne, Mond, und Sterne." Kaufhof, a large department store in Erlangen, sponsered the parade, and passed out free lanterns and brotchen (buns) for the children.

On Monday, the 13th, Alex's kindergarten celebrated St. Martin's as well with singing at our local Catholic church, St. Theresia, and then an Umzug (parade) around the neighborhood. This time, Alex carried a lantern he had made in kindergarten. It was the shape of a duck with colored tissue paper along the sides and front so that it glowed when the candle inside was lit. Afterwards, we ate Wieners and drank Gluehwein, with alcohol for the adults and without for the kids.

St. Martin's day commemorates Bishop Martin of Tours, who, as a soldier with the Roman Empire, had come across a beggar on a cold night. Martin got off his horse, used his sword to cut his cloak in half, and gave one half to the beggar. This event inspired him to become a bishop.

When we were living in Germany before, this became my favorite holiday, partly because we don't celebrate it in the U.S., but more so because it is so simple and yet so much fun.