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St. Martin's Day in St. Veit: joy, music and parade of lights with police!
A look at the St. Martin's Festival in St. Veit/Glan: celebrations with devotion, lantern procession and traditions surrounding St. Martin.
St. Martin's Day in St. Veit: joy, music and parade of lights with police!
Today, November 10, 2025, the city of St. Veit/Glan shines in the splendor of St. Martin's celebrations. The city parish's St. Martin's Day began with an atmospheric devotion in the monastery church, led by parish priest Jinu Joseph Mangalath. The festive introduction was the performance of the children from the St. Veit elementary school, who performed a colorful St. Martin's game under the direction of religion teacher Daniela Polak. The evening was musically accompanied by trumpet music performed by Betty and Leopold Moritz-Quast, which created a festive atmosphere.
After the service, the children and their families gathered for the lantern procession, which was led by “Saint Martin” on a pony. The police ensured security during the procession, which passed through Oktoberplatz, Hauptplatz and Herzog Bernhard-Platz until it finally ended at the city parish church. The festival ended there in the parish center with children's punch, pretzels and cheerful singing. The motto of the evening, “Sharing according to the example of Saint Martin promotes joy in life,” reflected the holy man’s message and brought the community a little closer together.
A look at Saint Martin
But who is this Saint Martin actually? According to legend, Saint Martin was born around 316 AD as a Roman soldier. The story in which he shares his warm coat with a cold beggar is particularly well known. The beggar later revealed himself to him as Jesus Christ in a dream. For this reason, Martin is considered the patron saint of travelers, the poor, beggars, horsemen and soldiers. In France he is of national sacredness and is also venerated as a special saint in the Archdiocese of Cologne, where the relationship with him has a long tradition.
His death on November 11, 397 and the subsequent canonization marked St. Martin's Day, which, not coincidentally, falls on the date on which many taxes in the form of geese were due. The animals have been inextricably linked to the festival since Martin hid with them when he was elected Bishop of Tours. St. Martin's Day is not only a celebratory end to Lent before Christmas, but also an opportunity for sumptuous meals, where roast goose is traditionally served.
St. Martin's Day parades all over Germany
The tradition of St. Martin's parades is alive in many cities in Germany. This tradition, which parades through the streets with lanterns, has been preserved over the centuries and attracts numerous participants year after year. According to reports, St. Martin's Day parades will take place in several cities in 2025:
| City | Date | Train route |
|---|---|---|
| Bonn | November 5, 2025 | Münsterplatz and surrounding streets |
| Dusseldorf | November 10, 2025 | Stiftsplatz, Lambertusstrasse, market square |
| Cologne | November 7, 2025 | Cologne Cathedral, Old Town |
| Wuppertal | November 10, 2025 | Laurentiusplatz and surrounding streets |
The history of Saint Martin comes to life in all of these cities. The lantern parades, which are accompanied by songs, promote a sense of community and bring young and old together. Eating traditional St. Martin’s Day dishes, such as the popular “Stutenkerl” made from yeast dough, is also an integral part of the celebrations.
In St. Veit/Glan it is also clear that St. Martin's custom goes far beyond the sharing of material goods; it is a celebration of community, sharing and joy. Bringing the light of St. Martin to people is, more than ever, an important message that is passed on from generation to generation.