Martinmas

Largely celebrated in Europe, St. Martin's Day on November 11,  is one of those essentially religious holidays that holds a really nice message.  Martin was a Roman soldier who came upon a freezing beggar at night.  He took his cloak and cut it in half, saving a piece for himself and giving the other half to the beggar saving the beggars life by keeping him from freezing.  That night he had a dream where Jesus came to him and said something along the lines of, "As you have done to this beggar, you have done to me."  Martin went on to be baptised as an adult and lived his life as a monk, being sainted post-humously (as is required).

The celebrations in Europe tend to relate Martinmas as a day or night of feasting prior to the beginning of a forty day advent.  Many places also celebrate with a lantern walk in the night.   In my research I couldn't exactly find the link between lanterns and St. Martin's deeds;  perhaps it is another way to bring light into this dark time of year.  Our little school celebrates Martinmas with one such lantern walk.  In the days before the walk, each class makes it's own little paper lanterns for the children, ranging from simple painted cylinders to very ornate cut paper decorations on geometrically designed containers.  They mostly have a wire or pipe-cleaner attachment on top and a long stick for a handle, keeping little hands safely away from the flame.  The families then gather at a local park for a nighttime walk.  One year, the eighth grade had access to a horse and re-enacted the entire story in theatrical form.   Some years a teacher steps forward and tells Martin's short story.  In years past we have then strolled around the park and sang songs about light.

The lantern walk tends to occur on the Friday most conveniently near November 11, and we had our lantern walk last night.  It was a warm-ish (for November) and lovely clear night.  About 250 children and adults gathered in our little park, and this time we walked over to the plaza a couple of blocks away.  We even had a motorcycle police escort which was by far the highlight for my 4 year old and 19 month old.  The baby kept saying/growling "BIKE" over and over and over.  Then when we he moved on, "Bye, bye bike." 

After we returned to the park, yummy warm rolls that are just ever so slightly sweet and flavored with nutmeg were served along with hot cider.  It was warm enough that the kids all ran around in the dark around little pools of lantern light and had a great old time.  The lanterns are really beautiful and fun--we now have a little collection from all of the different years that my boys have attended the school.  They are simple but sturdy enough that they can be re-used, and are another lovely way to bring light to the darkness and to get oneself outside into the night in spite of the cold.  What I really hope, though, is that the true message of Martin and his generosity, selflessness and charity gets through some little tiny pore and lodges into my kids' brains.

Lantern Bread Recipe

Yield-3 dozen--a large group, but modifies well--I've cut it down and made it at Thanksgiving.

18-20 cups white wheat OR spelt flour

6 cups soy OR regular milk

1 1/2 cups honey

1 1/2 cups oil

6 pkg yeast

6 tsp vanilla

3 tsp grated nutmeg

3 tsp salt

In a very large mixing bowl, combine 10 cups of flour, yeas, nutmeg, and salt.  On top of stove, combine milk, honey, oil and vanilla and heat to 105-110 deg F.  Pour into dry ingredients and stir to combine.  Let rise 15 minutes to make sure yeast is active.

Add remaining 8-10 cups flour and knead together but don't overnknead.  Let rise 30-40 minutes til double.

Punch down and make into spiral rolls--either a simple spiral or an S-shape.  Let rest 15 minutes in a warm place until rolls puff up but don't lose their spiral shape.  Brush with mild to make rolls shiny.

Bake at 375 deg F for 15-20 minutes.