Martinmas

Geese, new wine, lanterns – these are more or less the main things we know about this otherwise very cheerful and beautiful celebration. Yet there is so much more that may be important today!

November 11 is St. Martin’s Day. Both today and in the past, many people looked forward to it, each for their own reasons. In the old days, great feasts and balls were common around this time. Before the 40-day fast leading up to Christmas began, people celebrated in style. (And they probably ate and drank so much that the first few days of fasting were not particularly difficult for them…)

But why did this tradition develop? Who was Martin, and why are we supposed to eat goose on this day?

Martin was born in Pannonia in 316 AD (or 317) to a wealthy family. By the age of 15, he was already serving as a soldier, and his life changed when he was 18. According to the legend and surviving records, he was a generous young man who was endlessly kind to everyone. That year, he was stationed in Amiens, France. It was a cold, cruel winter, and many people froze to death or starved, especially those from poorer communities. Martin tried to share what he had with those in need, but after a while, he had nothing left to give. So, when he encountered a beggar on one of the coldest nights, he cut his cloak in half and used it to cover him. It was then, supposedly, that he heard the voice of God in a dream. A few years later, he was baptized and became extremely popular—so popular that in 371 he was to be appointed Bishop of Tours. However, because of his modesty, he did not want to accept the position, so he hid in a goose pen. The geese gave him away with their honking, and he eventually accepted the appointment. His entire life was accompanied by miracles. He was the first saint who did not die a martyr’s death, but lived his life with great recognition and love.

We will never know how much of the above is true and how much is not. What is certain is that the first written record of this day dates back to the 12th century. This day marked the end of the farming year, servants received their wages, the spring geese could finally be slaughtered, and the new wines were ready.

According to folk belief, anyone who does not eat goose on St. Martin’s Day will certainly go hungry the following year. In addition, the weather for the coming months can supposedly be predicted using a goose’s—more precisely, a gander’s—breastbone. If the bone is white, we can expect a snowy, pleasant winter; if it is brown, only wet and cold weather lies ahead.

And let us not forget the new wines either. It is no coincidence that they are also associated with this day—and not because St. Martin was such a great wine drinker (though who knows…). By November, the transformation of grape must into wine is complete, and in the larger wine regions, Martin is also the patron saint of new wine. On this day, people began drinking wine from the new barrels, which was supposedly believed to have healing effects.

And why do children carry lanterns, and why do so many people light fires?

This is the most beautiful message of this day—and of St. Martin himself.

Summer ended long ago, the days are getting shorter and darker, but Christmas is still far away. It is difficult to see the beauty and goodness in everything at this time, even though the greatest lesson of St. Martin’s legend is not the geese or the amusing-sounding story of hiding in a goose pen, but that he shared something with someone in need when that person needed it most. He looked at what he had that the other person did not, and however little it was, he gave some of it away.

This is the message of the lanterns and the light: that we feel we have had enough of the darkness and fog, that we want to return to warmth and light, but cannot yet, and must even wait for Christmas. When we light our lantern, we illuminate not only our own evening but those of others as well. Not as simply as the sun does in summer—instead, now we have to make a little effort and help someone who currently sees things as darker than we do. And if many such lanterns shine side by side, perhaps with a larger fire among them, all this light will give strength to us and to others. And, however it may sound, we will find within ourselves a brightness that will last well into the holidays, when everything will once again be filled with decorations and radiance.

We know this is a slightly different way of looking at this day, and we do not usually write to you about things like this. But it is a special celebration, and we hope it will be special for you too!

And do not forget the old saying: “Those who do not eat goose on St. Martin’s Day will go hungry all year; those who do not drink new wine on St. Martin’s Day will be thirsty all year”—so do not take any chances, eat and drink plenty!