St. Martin's Day parades in Oberhausen: All dates and highlights for 2025!

St. Martin's Day parades in Oberhausen: All dates and highlights for 2025!

In just a few days the time has come: St. Martin's Day is just around the corner, and in Oberhausen a large number of St. Martin's Day parades are ensuring happy faces among children big and small. On November 11, 2025, a Sunday, St. Martin's Day is celebrated, where children parade through the streets with lanterns and the legend of Saint Martin comes to life. Preparations for this are already in full swing, as the first St. Martin's Day parades will begin at the beginning of November 2025. The WAZ has created a comprehensive overview of the dates that will help families plan their visits.

A look at the date table shows that numerous schools and kindergartens in Oberhausen will be organizing St. Martin's Day parades, each with different activities. At the Alsfeld School, which starts its train on November 11th at 5:30 p.m., there is not only a children's punch offer, but also the popular grilled sausage. The monastery church of Our Lady starts on November 8th at 2 p.m. with stalls and a word service, followed by a festive St. Martin's procession with St. Martin on horseback and a brass band at 5:15 p.m. Meanwhile, at the elementary school on Oranienstrasse, there will be a parade to the Schmachtendorf market square on November 6th at 5:45 p.m., and participation is particularly sustainable here - the children are asked to bring their own cups.

The Legend of St. Martin

Saint Martin of Tours, also known simply as Saint Martin, lived in the 4th century and is a central figure in Christianity. Born around 316 AD in Savaria, modern-day Hungary, Martin became known as a Roman soldier, yet he aspired to be a “soldier of Christ.” His most famous legend tells of sharing a coat with a cold beggar, which has become the symbolism of sharing and charity on this day. This traditionally happens in the St. Martin's Procession, where St. Martin rides on his horse and the children follow him while fishing for lanterns and singing songs. According to RP Online, the children often go from house to house to collect candy, a custom that promotes joy and community.

The celebrations in honor of this saint are not only a local event, but also a Europe-wide event. In many countries, including Poland, Austria and Denmark, St. Martin's bonfires are lit and songs are sung. Interestingly, the St. Martin's Goose custom may have come from a legend in which Martin hid in a goose pen to avoid being elected bishop. Nowadays, St. Martin's Day is often celebrated with a feast at which the St. Martin's goose is the focus.

A colorful program for children

The St. Martin's Day parades in Oberhausen offer a colorful program that goes far beyond simple parades. A sharing of the cloak will be celebrated at the Church of St. Marien Rothebusch on November 9th at 5:00 p.m., followed by a cozy get-together with grilled sausages and St. Martin's pretzels. The St. Barbara parish's St. Barbara's parade on the same day at 5:00 p.m. on the parish meadow behind the Barbara Church is similarly festive. The focus here is also on community, and the get-together is rounded off with pretzels, children's punch and mulled wine.

In summary, St. Martin's Day is not only a special holiday, but also a wonderful experience for the whole family. The colorful hustle and bustle, the bright children's eyes and the lively tradition make this time something very special. If you don't have any plans yet, you should note the dates and locations of the St. Martin's parades in Oberhausen and enjoy the festive atmosphere.

Those interested can find further information about the St. Martin's processions and the background to St. Martin on Escorts MX.