Full of candy, scared and spooked, disguised as a creature of the night…that's Halloween. The festival is very popular in the English speaking world.
But have you heard about Martinstag (St Martin’s Day)? It’s a great way to celebrate as the autumn season begins in Germany, so you can talk to your German friends about the St Martin’s lanterns, bonfires, and songs.
What is St Martin's Day?
St Martin’s Day is (you guessed it from the name) a religious feast inspired by the story of St Martin of Tours.
Here’s the story of St Martin:
Martin is riding along a path on a cold November night. He comes across a beggar by the roadside and even though he's got nothing on him, he decides to help the poor man out by ripping his cloak in two and sharing it.
Well, this is the version of the story that I remember from Kindergarten anyway. If you read up on it on Wikipedia, the tale becomes a LOT more religious. Religious references aside, what the feast day celebrates today is the value of generosity and sharing with those in need.
Essential German for St Martin's Day
If you love learning German with stories, I recommend German Uncovered, my super comprehensive course loved by German learners all over the world. It was created in collaboration with StoryLearning, and will help you learn German in context without having to cram and rote learn.
Martinstag - St Martin’s Day
der Umzug, die Parade - procession
die Laterne - lantern
eine Laterne basteln - to make your own lantern
basteln - crafting
leuchten - to shine, to glow
das Licht - light
das Martinsfeuer - bonfire to celebrate the day
die Sterne - the stars
der Soldat - soldier
der Bettler - beggar
teilen - to share
Need ideas for remembering vocabulary better? Click here to read how to get great vocab memory.
How Germans Celebrate St Martin's Day
Danke an laterne-basteln.de
St Martin's Day is celebrated in Germany around 11 November. It’s particularly common in the Rhineland.
Many children celebrate by carrying little lanterns (often homemade), and following a procession with music, warm drinks, and sweet treats. Sometimes, the procession is led by a "St Martin" wearing a red coat and riding a horse. Often they are accompanied by a local band playing the famous St Martin's songs.
My own rural German background includes happy memories of lanterns, songs, and a big Martinsfeuer (bonfire) at the end, where people would gather and enjoy seasonal treats. For the adults, I’m pretty sure there was some warm Glühwein (mulled wine) involved.
Martin’s parade (photo via mexicanosenalemania.de)
Read on to find out what sweet treats are in store if you attend a Martinsumzug (St Martin’s Day parade) yourself. And if you spot someone you’d love to chat to 😍, don’t miss my tips for how to flirt in German.
If you want to celebrate St Martin's Day too, you can build little lanterns, sing a song with the children (or with your mates!) or bake a lovely Weckmann (recipe below).
St Martin's Day Songs
The easiest song to learn is "Laterne, Laterne", with its three lines of lyrics.
Laterne, Laterne
Sonne, Mond und Sterne
Brenne auf mein Licht, Brenne auf mein Licht
Aber nur meine liebe Laterne nicht!
(Lantern, Sun, Moon and Stars. Let my light burn brightly, but not my dear lantern!)
Other great songs for this season include "Ich geh' mit meiner Laterne" and "St Martin". You’ll hear these played at processions, bonfires and sung in Kindergarten.
What to Eat on St Martin's Day in Germany
St Martin’s Day is a feast day, so there are plenty of sweet treats to be had.
Look out for these St Martin’s Treats in German Bakeries in November:
Weckmänner are pastries made with sweet dough. They come in the shape of a person, often with raisins for the eyes. The little guy also comes with a clay pipe.
The word Weckmann combines Weck (Southern German word for a bun) and Mann (man). You’ll also hear them called Stutenkerl in some parts of Germany.
Martinsbrezel are sweet dough pretzels covered in sugar.
Glühwein is mulled wine. The wine (often high quality local wine) is heated up with spices and sugar to create a comforting winter drink. If you’re not into drinking alcohol, there’s often a sober version available (look out for words like Punsch and Kinderwein).
Here is a Weckmann recipe in German, with thanks to the website chefkoch.de. How much do you understand?
Zutaten
1 Kilo Mehl, 1 Würfel Hefe, 150 Gramm Zucker, 90 Gramm Butter, 1 Teelöffel Salz und 500ml warme Milch.
Anleitung
Zuerst das Mehl, die Hefe und 125ml Milch vermischen und 10 Minuten gehen lassen.
Butter, Zucker, Salz und restliche Milch auflösen und alles mit dem gegangenen Teig verrühren. Aus dem Teig Weckmänner formen und 10 Minuten gehen lassen.
Mit Milch bestreichen und 15-20 Minuten bei 220 Grad backen.
Quick Q&A About St Martin's Day
Speedy questions, speedy answers!
What do you do on St Martin’s Day?
On St Martin’s Day (11 November), many people in Europe celebrate with seasonal foods, processions, and bonfires.
In Germany, children often craft lanterns and sing songs at local processions.
Why is St Martin’s Day celebrated?
St Martin’s Day commemorates St Martin of Tours, known for sharing his red cloak with a freezing beggar during a snow storm. St Martin stands for generosity and charity.
How long has St Martin’s Day been celebrated?
St Martin’s Day, also known as Old Halloween or Martinmas, has history going back over 1500 years. It falls on the end of harvest season and was celebrated throughout the Middle Ages, and all over Europe.
Where to Learn German for St Martin's Day
If you love learning German with stories, I recommend German Uncovered, my super comprehensive course loved by German learners all over the world.
It was created in collaboration with StoryLearning, and will help you learn German in context without having to cram and rote learn.
Here are some more handy links for German learners:
My full German learning resource list for all levels
Little-known facts about speaking German to level up your pronunciation skills
Hope you enjoyed this article - have a great St Martin’s Day, wherever you are celebrating! 🏮