On this day, you just might find some singing Dutch kids on your doorstep, expecting candy as their sweet reward. November 11 is ‘St. Maarten’s Dag’, Holland’s Halloween-like holy day.
When I first opened my door to a group of kids carrying lanterns and singing to me, was I pleasantly surprised! It was last St. Martin’s Day and the neighborhood kids were out for candies. Luckily, I was well stocked in the sweets department.
St. Martin’s Day (Sint Maarten or elf november (11 November) resembles the US’s Halloween celebration, except it has a very different story behind it. This Dutch day honors Martinus (AD 316-397), who was born in Hungary and served in the Roman army. At the age of 18, Martinus was baptized and became a monk. He proceeded to establish several monasteries in France and was appointed the bishop of Tours in AD 372. And it was in Tours that he was eventually buried.
Shortly after Martinus’ death the people honored his beneficence, with legend recording how, as a Roman soldier, Martinus came across a shivering beggar by the gates of Amiens and, seeing how cold the beggar was, drew his sword and cut his own cloak in two, giving half of it to the beggar. This scene is often portrayed in artworks and is usually the climax of historical pageants celebrating the Saint. It’s also this event that made Martinus the patron of the poor and lead to him being honored as ‘Sint Maarten’ (Saint Martin).
Over the course of history, this legend was extended to include not only the poor but also children. Which is why, on this holy day, people usually give small gifts to children. And this propensity to give was also very much strengthened by the fact that 11 November is traditionally also the start of a long fasting period.
The honoring of Sint Maarten was not just limited to France, where thousands of churches were and still are devoted to him. The tradition spread throughout Europe and is very much alive in the Netherlands today. On every 11 November, Dutch children usually arrive on our doorsteps with their handmade, lighted lanterns between 18-20:00. Once the door is opened, the children proceed to sing an elf november song in honor of Sint Maarten and wait expectantly for their sweet treats. On this day, some schools also organize parades during which the kids get to show off their handmade lanterns. Some cities also organize processions featuring a Roman soldier on a horse, with his rescue of the beggar the highpoint of the event.
Having singing Dutch kids at your door is a warm and lovely experience on a cold autumn evening. Should some arrive at your home, you can give them anything from a couple of sweets to a whole handful of candies. According to old tradition, some were even given fruits, such as mandarins, but modern kids will surely prefer chocolate. So this November 11, be prepared. Stock up on candy and enjoy the children’s sweet songs!
When I first opened my door to a group of kids carrying lanterns and singing to me, was I pleasantly surprised! It was last St. Martin’s Day and the neighborhood kids were out for candies. Luckily, I was well stocked in the sweets department.
St. Martin’s Day (Sint Maarten or elf november (11 November) resembles the US’s Halloween celebration, except it has a very different story behind it. This Dutch day honors Martinus (AD 316-397), who was born in Hungary and served in the Roman army. At the age of 18, Martinus was baptized and became a monk. He proceeded to establish several monasteries in France and was appointed the bishop of Tours in AD 372. And it was in Tours that he was eventually buried.
Shortly after Martinus’ death the people honored his beneficence, with legend recording how, as a Roman soldier, Martinus came across a shivering beggar by the gates of Amiens and, seeing how cold the beggar was, drew his sword and cut his own cloak in two, giving half of it to the beggar. This scene is often portrayed in artworks and is usually the climax of historical pageants celebrating the Saint. It’s also this event that made Martinus the patron of the poor and lead to him being honored as ‘Sint Maarten’ (Saint Martin).
Over the course of history, this legend was extended to include not only the poor but also children. Which is why, on this holy day, people usually give small gifts to children. And this propensity to give was also very much strengthened by the fact that 11 November is traditionally also the start of a long fasting period.
The honoring of Sint Maarten was not just limited to France, where thousands of churches were and still are devoted to him. The tradition spread throughout Europe and is very much alive in the Netherlands today. On every 11 November, Dutch children usually arrive on our doorsteps with their handmade, lighted lanterns between 18-20:00. Once the door is opened, the children proceed to sing an elf november song in honor of Sint Maarten and wait expectantly for their sweet treats. On this day, some schools also organize parades during which the kids get to show off their handmade lanterns. Some cities also organize processions featuring a Roman soldier on a horse, with his rescue of the beggar the highpoint of the event.
Having singing Dutch kids at your door is a warm and lovely experience on a cold autumn evening. Should some arrive at your home, you can give them anything from a couple of sweets to a whole handful of candies. According to old tradition, some were even given fruits, such as mandarins, but modern kids will surely prefer chocolate. So this November 11, be prepared. Stock up on candy and enjoy the children’s sweet songs!
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