Every year, on November 11th, the feast of San Martino returns, an anniversary which in Italy smells of chestnuts, new wine and peasant traditions, while in other European countries it lights up the streets with hundreds of colored lanterns, made mainly by children. Behind this celebration, which symbolically marks the transition towards the colder season, lies an ancient history, made up of solidarity, sharing and small gestures capable of making a difference.
But why have lanterns become one of the symbols of San Martino? And where did the legend of the cloak that is still told to children today come from?
The story of Saint Martin and the cloak divided in half
Before becoming bishop of Tours, Martin was a young soldier in the Roman army, the son of a veteran. According to tradition, one day, while he was near the French city of Amiens, he met a cold beggar, dressed only in a few rags.
Martino had nothing with him to offer him, so he took his sword, cut his cloak in two and gave half of it to the man, so that he could protect himself from the cold. Legend has it that, immediately after that gesture, the sky cleared and the sun returned to warm the air, interrupting the bad weather. The popular tradition of St. Martin’s Summer derives from this episode, an expression which still today indicates a period of unusually mild days in the heart of autumn. That night, again according to the hagiographic story, Martin dreamed of Jesus wrapped in half of the cloak he had given to the poor man. An experience that would have contributed to definitively bringing him closer to the Christian faith.
Martin later left his military career and dedicated himself to religious life, paying particular attention to rural populations and the humblest people. In 371 AD he became bishop of Tours, France, where he continued his work until his death on 8 November 397. His feast day falls on 11 November, the day on which his funeral was celebrated.
Why are lanterns lit on San Martino?
If in Italy San Martino mainly recalls chestnuts and new wine, in several countries in central and northern Europe the celebration is linked to a particularly evocative tradition: children’s evening walks with lit lanterns. One of the popular explanations links this custom to the funeral of the saint, when, according to tradition, a crowd of faithful accompanied his body to the burial carrying lights.
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The origin of the lantern processions, however, is not documented with certainty and could also be intertwined with ancient autumn customs linked to light and the arrival of winter. However, the symbolic meaning remains very strong: a small light capable of illuminating the darkness, just like the gesture of generosity made by Martino towards the beggar.
Lanterns are often made by children using colored paper, cardboard and recycled materials. Once ready, they become the protagonists of evening walks, during which traditional songs dedicated to the saint are sung.
DIY St. Martin’s lanterns
If in view of November 11th you want to make DIY lanterns together with your children, below we have selected a series of simple and original ideas from which to draw inspiration.
St. Martin’s lanterns with leaves
How about a beautiful lantern decorated with autumn leaves? To make it, proceed like this.
First, get the following materials:
Procedure
St. Martin’s lanterns with glass jars
Glass jars are also ideal for making St. Martin’s lanterns.
For this project you will need:
Proceed by gluing the pieces of colored tissue paper onto the jar with vinyl glue. Pass another coat of glue over the tissue paper, without worrying about the white color, which will become transparent in a few minutes.
Leave to dry and thread some colored wooden beads into a long piece of thin wire, which you will then hook around the jar.
St. Martin’s felt lanterns
If you have sheets of colored felt at home, you can prepare delicious lanterns.
Material needed:
Procedure
