A Georgia Girl in Germany

This past November, just like the previous one, Zachary and MacKenzie’s school sponsored a St. Martin’s Lantern Walk. MacKenzie had studied about St. Martin during Brownies, so it made sense for her to participate in the walk along with several Brownies from her troop, while carrying the lanterns they made for the occasion.
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I think the kids really liked the glow sticks...almost more than the lanterns they were supposed to be lighting up! Benjamin sure did!


Carie was still TDY here, so she came along on the walk as well. It’s always good to learn about other cultures and traditions. That said, here’s the story behind the St. Martin’s Lantern Walk...

St. Martin was born around 316, and his parents worshipped the old Roman gods since Christianity had been forbidden. However, just before he was born, the Roman Emperor Constantine I became a Christian, so Martin later chose to become a Christian. When Martin was a soldier in the Roman army, he and his soldiers were riding to the town of Amiens, France, on a very cold night. As they entered the town gates, Martin saw a beggar shivering in the cold and wearing only a few clothes. Since Martin didn’t have any food or money to offer the poor man, he took his thick cloak, cut it in two and gave half to the man. That night Jesus appeared to Martin in a dream and told him he had been the poor shivering beggar. Martin then realized he must give his life to God. He left the army and began to devote his life to Jesus. He first became a monk and was later made a bishop. After his death in 396, he was made a saint. The St. Martin’s Lantern March is celebrated each November to commemorate his act of kindness toward the cold beggar.


While walking, everyone’s supposed to sing the Lantern song. The first verse is:
Laterne, Laterne,
Sonne, Mond und Sterne,
Brenne auf, mein Licht,
Brenne auf, mein Licht,
Nur meine schöne Laterne nichte.

This translates to:
Lantern, lantern
Sun, moon and stars
Burn up my light
Burn up my light
But don't burn my dear lantern.

When the walk returned to the school, a group of students performed a reenactment of St. Martin sharing his cloak with the beggar, then all the students received a “bread man” complete with raison eyes and a plastic pipe as a late evening snack.

Labels: Benjamin, Germany, MacKenzie