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SAINT MARTINS DAY [1 record]

Record 1 2005-08-08

English

Subject field(s)
  • Names of Special Years, Weeks, Days
  • Culture (General)
OBS

On November 11, Saint Martin's day, children in Flanders, the northern parts of the Netherlands, the Catholic areas of Germany and in Austria participate in paper lantern processions. Often, a man dressed as Saint Martin rides on a horse in front of the procession. The children sing songs about Saint Martin and about their lantern. The food traditionally eaten on the day is goose. According to legend, Martin was reluctant to become bishop, which is why he hid in a stable filled with geese. The noise made by the geese betrayed his location to the people who were looking for him. Also in the east part of the Belgian province East-Flanders, children receive presents from Saint Martin on November 11, instead of from Saint Nicholas on December 6, or Santa Claus on December 25.

French

Domaine(s)
  • Désignations d'années, de semaines et de jours spéciaux
  • Culture (Généralités)
OBS

On fête en Flandre, la Saint-Martin le soir du 10 novembre (ainsi que le soir du 11 novembre avant la Seconde Guerre mondiale). Les enfants chantent en Flandre française, le soir de la Saint-Martin, en défilant dans la rue, avec une lanterne en forme de tête, creusée dans une betterave à sucre. Après le défilé, on leur donne un folard et une orange, et le concours de la plus belle lanterne est organisé. Cette fête n'est pas sans rappeler Halloween, que l'on fête outre-Atlantique, à la différence que Halloween est la fête de la nuit, de la mort, alors que la Saint-Martin est la fête de la vie, de la lumière. Bien que d'inspiration chrétienne, la Saint-Martin en Flandre est une fête païenne, et est fêtée dans les écoles laïques.

Spanish

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