Amigo97
Saint Martin is a holiday in honor of Saint Martin (Maarten). He is known as the Holy Bishop of Tours in France, yet he is now best known for his act of mercy well before he became a bishop. As a Roman soldier he shared his soldier's cloak with a beggar.
Sint Maarten is celebrated in (parts of) the Netherlands, Belgium, Northern France and in parts of Germany. Each region has its own customs. It is a tradition that children go door to door with lanterns and sing songs, after which they are rewarded with sweets. Other traditions include lighting bonfires and organizing parades.
The party seems to be growing in popularity in recent years. In Amsterdam, for example, the party had not been celebrated for hundreds of years, until it suddenly appeared in the suburbs. At the beginning of this century, the first lanterns appeared on the canals again and the 'St. Maarten' walk is once again a living tradition in Amsterdam.
Another legend is about the lights: The mount of Sint Maarten would have run away in the evening. Helpful villagers then went to search for the animal with lights. That is why the children still go door-to-door with lights.
Songs about Saint Martin
The oldest surviving children's song dates from the early seventeenth century. In 'Den christelicken hvys-hovder' (a Catholic instruction booklet with questions and answers) by Joannes David the following song is mentioned:
Stoockt vier, maeckt vier:
Sinte Marten komt hier
Met syne bloote armen
Hij soude hem gheerne warmen?
A modern Sint Maarten song in The Netherlands:
Sinte Sinte Maarten;
De koeien dragen staarten;
De koeien dragen horens;
De kerken dragen torens;
De torens dragen klokken;
De meisjes dragen rokken;
De jongens dragen broeken;
Oude wijven die veel kijven dragen schorteldoeken.
August 24, 2022