Big St. Martin's Day in Unterholzhausen: magic lanterns and shadow play!

Big St. Martin's Day in Unterholzhausen: magic lanterns and shadow play!

On November 15, 2025, an extraordinary St. Martin's Day festival took place in the small village of Unterholzhausen, which thrilled both young and old. The evening began with a fascinating shadow play, opened by the engaging Franziska Sonderhauser. While the audience of children, parents and grandparents gathered, the start of the game was delayed as dusk was still a long way off.

An integral part of the festival was the traditional St. Martin's procession. This led the participants, equipped with self-made lanterns, around the church and past the fire station back to the village square, where a warming fire blazed in a fire bowl. Here the story of St. Martin of Francis was recited in poem form, while other members of the group illustrated the story with figures on an illuminated screen. The performance received a special note because the original actress of St. Martin was unable to take part for health reasons.

The tradition of Saint Martin

St. Martin's Day is known for its lights and lanterns, which bathe the evening in a warm glow. [Stories House] emphasizes that silhouettes and shadow play are a particularly appealing method of conveying the legend of Saint Martin. The characters available to the children to perform ranged from Saint Martin on his horse to the poor man he was helping. These stories and images from the St. Martin's legend are traditionally kept alive through lantern parades, which have a special place in the hearts of many families.

The St. Martin's Procession is not only a visual experience, but also an acoustic one. Children sing songs such as “I go with my lantern” or “Saint Martin rode through the snow and wind”. This tradition promotes a sense of community and joy, as [Life and Education] emphasizes. The parade in Unterholzhausen was accompanied by the singing of the little ones who celebrated the festive occasion.

Cozy get-together

After the impressive shadow play, a social gathering followed. The villagers were able to strengthen themselves and enjoy the time together with Bosna, mulled wine and children's punch. A donation was requested for the parent-child group, which underlined the cohesion and support of the community.

For anyone who wants to be creative, there are numerous ideas for lanterns. Materials such as papier-mâché, translucent colored paper and craft instructions are very popular, as determined by [Life and Education]. There are also a variety of craft ideas based on the silhouettes of St. Martin that encourage children to get involved.

Overall, the St. Martin's Festival in Unterholzhausen was a successful example of community solidarity, tradition and light in dark times. The children and their lanterns conjured up a radiant picture that will be remembered for a long time.