Българите и предсказанията

St. Martin's Day, celebrated on November 11th, is a German-speaking tradition that commemorates St. Martin of Tours with lantern processions (Laternenumzüge), singing, and feasting. The holiday honors his story of sharing his cloak with a beggar and is linked to harvest time, with traditions including eating goose ("Martinsgans") and bonfires. Children often participate by creating and carrying their own lanterns through the streets.
Traditions and celebrations
Lantern processions: Children walk through the streets at dusk holding colorful, often handmade, lanterns while singing traditional songs.
Reenactment: A person on horseback, dressed as St. Martin, often leads the procession and reenacts the story of sharing his cloak with a beggar.
Feasting: The "Martinsgans" (St. Martin's goose) is a traditional meal, but goose-shaped pastries are also common. The custom is tied to the end of the agricultural year when people would slaughter and preserve livestock for winter.
Bonfires: Bonfires are often lit on St. Martin's Day, linking the tradition to old-fashioned autumn fire and light festivals.
Door-to-door singing: In some areas, children go from door-to-door singing St. Martin's songs and receive small gifts or sweets, similar to trick-or-treating.
Historical origins
St. Martin of Tours: The day commemorates the 4th-century bishop St. Martin of Tours, who was known for his kindness and charity.
The cloak story: The most famous legend is that he cut his cloak in half to share with a beggar during a snowstorm. He later dreamt of Jesus wearing the cloak, which prompted him to become a priest.
Economic significance: The holiday also marked the end of the economic year in the past, when tenants paid their landlords. This often involved paying dues in the form of goods, including geese, which is one reason for the traditional goose dinner.