St. Martin's Day

Last year when walking home from work, I saw this parade through the busy streets of Munich. There was a horse leading the parade and 100's of kids with their parents holding lanterns in the parade.

This year I learned this is yet another annual tradition in Munich for St Martin's day. It was tough to learn exactly why this saint had a parade:

Jeff: "Hey Sarah, did you know tomorrow is a holiday?"

Sarah: "Another one?  Do you get it off work?"

Jeff: "No, it is St. Martin's Day.  Do you remember me telling you about the lanterns last year?"

Sarah: "No.  What is this holiday for?"

Jeff: "I have no idea, let me ask a coworker."

Coworker: "Yes, I know St. Martin's Day, it is when kids carry lanterns through the streets in a Parade."

Jeff: "But why? What does it signify?"

Coworker: "St. Martin I guess, I don't know."

But we really liked the idea.  Munich is really a fun city that celebrates all kinds of things.  It really helps to constantly have something to look forward to, and St. Martin's Day is just that day on November 11th.

This year Sarah, Will and I joined the parade. Technically we were just going to observe, but we saw our friends and neighbors the Demmlers in the parade and joined in.

The pictures don't begin to do it justice. The hand made lanterns held by the kids were really cool and the sense of community was great!

Tough to see, but here is Sarah and Will with the Demmlers.  Thilo made Louis a lantern that contained a real candle.  Cool stuff!

The horse leading the torch bearing kids of Haidhausen down the neighborhood street.

Just in case you were interested why this occurs, it seems it is a feasting celebration.  How the lanterns fit in is really anyone's guess, but what a fun tradition.