Our annual Sankt Martin celebrations took place on 11th of November 2021 in St. Kilian’s and was a highlight for our Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd class children. Our students were enjoying the music, the singing of the traditional German songs and the lantern procession on the school grounds. A big thank you to all teachers and parents involved and also a special thanks to Ms Thielemans and our amazing choir. It was such a wonderful and memorable evening.
Sankt Martin Celebrations have a long tradition in Germany and are celebrated every year around 11th November to remember the Saint for his good deeds. Sankt Martin was a Roman soldier who once saved the life of a poor man. One very cold winter night, he encountered a poor man freezing, because he had neither bread nor money with him, he used his sword to cut up his warm cloak and gave half of it to the poor man. Sankt Martin later converted to Christianity and became a bishop.
Here in St. Kilian’s we enjoy keeping this tradition alive and celebrate our own Sankt Martin with re-enactments of the story and lantern processions and of course the traditional ‘Weckmann’, a sweet treat shaped into a gingerbread that is shared as symbol of kindness.
