St. Martin's Day parade in Ludwigshafen: A sea of ​​lights for the children!

St. Martin's Day parade in Ludwigshafen: A sea of ​​lights for the children!

On November 11th, another colorful spectacle will be celebrated in Ludwigshafen: the St. Martin's Day parade of the Catholic parish of St. Sebastian is just around the corner. It starts at 6 p.m. in the Schillerschule schoolyard. From there, the children take their lanterns to Zedtwitzplatz, where a performance of the traditional St. Martin's Game awaits the participants. They are accompanied by a brass band and a horse from the children's aid riding stable, which represents St. Martin.

The meeting point at the tower is responsible for the physical well-being after the St. Martin's game. The event is aimed not only at children, but at all families and interested parties who want to celebrate St. Martin's Day. The legendary story of Saint Martin, who shared his cloak with a freezing beggar, is the focus here. A custom that brings children and adults together year after year and encourages them to think.

Traditions surrounding St. Martin's Day

The celebrations on St. Martin's Day are not limited to Ludwigshafen. Similar parades take place in many regions of Germany and Austria, organized by parishes, schools or neighborhoods. The procession is often led by a person in Roman soldier's clothing, who sometimes rides a horse. During the parade, children and young people sing traditional St. Martin's songs, such as "I'm going with my lantern", and the sharing of the cloak is reenacted. This tradition is an important part of the cultural heritage as a tribute to Saint Martin, who later became Bishop of Tours.

But the celebrations don't stop there. The “Mine Becomes Yours” campaign, which encourages the donation of well-preserved clothing, is also becoming increasingly popular at St. Martin’s Day parades. This initiative, which is supported by Aktion hoffnung, offers the opportunity to do something good. The clothing items are sent to thrift stores and the proceeds go to projects for children in need. Participants can also attach a personal message to each item of clothing, which integrates the idea of ​​charity into the campaign.

Materials and other activities

Sternsinger Children's Mission also comes into play by providing action-related materials that are of great value to daycare centers, schools and communities. Here, anyone interested will find numerous stories, songs and recipes about St. Martin's Day. A special story to read aloud, “A Martins Badge for Everyone”, invites you to design and give out your own Martins Badges to strengthen the sense of community and keep the tradition alive.

To ensure their physical well-being during the celebrations, delicacies such as Weckmanns, St. Martin's croissants and children's punch are provided for the little guests, while the adults can warm up with a mulled wine. Many families also serve a St. Martin's goose - a delicious end to a festive evening.

The coming days are all about St. Martin, and we look forward to many bright children's eyes and a colorful get-together. Join us and let’s celebrate the traditions together on November 11th!