Island’s German community celebrates St Martin’s Day
ST MARTIN’S Day was celebrated by Guernsey’s German community on Friday.
Children from five families took part in a lantern walk around Fairfield, in the Castel, followed by ‘St Martin’ on his horse.
Organiser Stephanie Barnes said she moved the walk to Fairfield this year as they had managed to organise a real horse, and for one of the adults to play the role of St Martin.
During the walk the group sang traditional German songs and the children received sweets at the end.
‘Every part of Germany celebrates the day a little differently,’ said Mrs Barnes.
‘It’s particularly big in southern Germany.’
St Martin’s Day celebrates the Roman soldier turned saint who, according to the legend, gave his coat to a beggar freezing in the cold.
Legend has it that Martin had a special relationship with geese, who either interrupted his sermon or gave him away when he hid among them.
Whichever way the story goes, the geese were roasted, and to this day the traditional St Martin’s Day dish is Martinsgans – St Martin’s goose.
Mrs Barnes says she wants to incorporate this into next year’s lantern walk.
‘I hope to make it an even bigger event next year,’ she said.
‘And finish with a traditional meal of goose.’
