St. Martin's Day and the Laternelaufen

Growing up, Halloween was never really a holiday that we observed. We lived in the country, with few other houses, so it couldn’t really be a neighborhood thing (somehow trick-or-treating with a car isn’t quite as thrilling), and so we would only occasionally dress up if we had an event to attend. And honestly, I’ve kind of taken that approach with our children so far. Partially because in the last few years they haven’t been old enough to enjoy it, and so I haven’t bothered. 

These facts made it all the more surprising to me when this year, nestled in this cozy, but admittedly halloween-less land, I really missed the festivities! I didn’t miss the tacky or gory decorations, but I missed seeing and savoring pumpkins on every stoop, and the candy corn, caramel corn, hot apple cider (essentially, the food), corn mazes, and hay rides. I think I counted a total of 4 carved pumpkins displayed outside various homes, and no costumes whatsoever! 

Halloween just isn’t a thing here.

But then, just when it seemed like this lovely autumn season was going to go by without any festivities, Laternelaufen happened. St. Martin’s Day is on November 11th, but Sebastian’s KiGa (Kindergarten) celebrated early with a Laternalaufen—literally “lantern walk”—on Tuesday evening.

No one knows exactly why this tradition is attached to St. Martin’s Day, but presumably it has to do with bringing light into the world through love and selfless giving to ones neighbor. St. Martin, a soldier, is remembered first for having given half his soldiers coat to a beggar in danger of freezing to death.

At first I thought this tradition was little observed in Germany, but I am quickly realizing that families, and communities, observe St. Martin’s Day with a fervor akin to our American Halloween. A holiday that brings a community together, lighting the way in a darkened world, and stopping along the way to sing about it? Now that’s a holiday I can get excited about! The children carry colorful lanterns with endless variations. Some homemade, some store bought, but all charming and vibrant.

Thanks, Germany, for restoring my faith in your holiday observances. I can’t wait to see what you do with Christmas!

Experiemnting with the settings on my camera on the way to the Laternelaufen. What a cute test subject, no?

Taking it all in just before the Laternelaufen began.

This little goof saw me trying to take a picture and started kicking up his heels.