The Goose is on the loose. Or Pate doesn't count. I'm kind of looking forward to Nov 10...

"According to legend, St. Martin was a knight in Roman times who charitably cut his cloak into two with his sword and shared it with a beggar who was about to freeze to death. This memorable event is celebrated to this day in November, mainly in Southern and Western Germany. St. Martinstag is the 11th of November. The celebrations involve little kids walking around town at dusk on November 10th,carrying home-made lanterns. The lanterns used to be made from hollowed out beets with a face carved in, similar to what Americans do to pumpkins around Halloween. The kids parade through town singing traditional songs, sometimes accompanied by a St. Martin on a horse. In some regions the kids also go gripschen (grabbing) by singing songs in front of houses, and being rewarded with candies, apples and nuts.

After the parade, kids traditionally get a Weckmann and a cup of hot chocolate, while the adults devour a Martinsgans (goose). The Weckmann is a sweet breadroll, 25-30 cm long, in the shape of a man with raisins for the eyes and often a white clay pipe in his mouth.


[This message has been edited by transpac (edited 10-25-2000).]