Introduction to St. Martin’s Day and Carnival
It can seem like a strange coincidence when children parade through the streets of Germany with lanterns on St. Martin’s Day on November 11th and at the same time colorfully dressed carnival participants shout “Alaaf” or “Helau”. Do these things really go together? In fact, Carnival and St. Martin’s Day are two customs that have a common origin that goes back several centuries.
The Origin of St. Martin’s Day
Bishop Martin of Tours died on November 8, 397 and was buried three days later. This was a huge event and explains why November 11th is celebrated and not the day of his death. The legend of how Martin, as a soldier in the Roman army, shared his cloak with a beggar became the most famous story about the saint’s life. He is one of the few saints who received this status not as a martyr, but because of his charity and Christian way of life. His kindness made him a popular patron saint not only of the poor, but also of craftsmen, winemakers and farmers.
The End of the Agricultural Year
In the Middle Ages, St. Martin’s Day, which took place a few days after Thanksgiving, marked the end of the farming year. The harvest was brought in, the grapes were picked, the rent was paid (mostly with fattening geese) and the wages were paid. Following the slaughter of livestock for winter supply, there was a feast that also allowed people to consume larger quantities of perishable foods such as meat, eggs and dairy products on this day before the Church-mandated Lent.
Lent before Christmas
Today it is hard to imagine that people used to fast before Christmas. Consumerism and Christmas markets with their extensive offerings, ranging from Christmas cookies and sausages to mulled wine and eggnog, no longer show any trace of this tradition. However, in earlier centuries, Advent was a strict period of fasting for Christians, similar to the period before Easter. It was to begin after November 11th and also last six weeks, as a silent preparation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. Over time, the requirement of Advent fasting was relaxed until it was abolished by the Roman Catholic Church in 1917.
The Last Drinking Session before Advent
Before penance and abstinence get serious, you can let off steam one last time, eat, drink, dance and celebrate wildly on a day that also mocks the church. The number 11 not only marks the burial of Saint Martin, but also lies exactly between two numbers that are sacred to Christianity: 10 for the 10 Commandments and 12 for the 12 Apostles. The 11 disrupted this divine order and over time caused her to be associated with fools and fools. Carnival starts on November 11th at 11:11 a.m. In the Rhenish strongholds, revelers loudly celebrate the start of the carnival – but from November 12th it disappears and reappears in January. Then the first events begin, culminating in the colorful street carnival in February, which is celebrated for six days and ends again on Ash Wednesday.
St. Martin and the Fools: Opposites Attract
So while the church honors St. Martin of Tours on November 11th and children parade through the streets with lanterns and brass bands and sing for sweets at the front doors, the carnivalists loudly celebrate joy of life and freedom on this day before the more contemplative Advent season begins. The two different festivals that take place on the same day complement each other well: the first celebrates charity and light, while the other celebrates exuberance and laughter. November 11th is a date full of contrasts and that’s what makes it so special. It reminds us of compassion and humanity, of sharing. And that sometimes life is just meant to be celebrated.
