Children to lead St. Martin's procession to celebrate German Day

Naperville-area residents who enjoy Oktoberfest in the fall will have another German holiday to celebrate this year.

Students from the German Language School in Naperville will have a St. Martin's Day procession for the city's first German Day celebration at 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 18, at Naperville City Hall, 400 S. Eagle St.

The Feast of St. Martin or Martinmas, celebrated on Nov. 11, marks the first day of winter in Germany and recognizes a humble man who became a saint.

St. Martin of Tours was a Roman soldier before he was baptized and became a monk. The best-known legend about him is that he cut his cloak in half to share with a beggar in a snowstorm.

Although officially a Catholic holiday, St. Martin's generally isn't celebrated that way in Germany, said Angela Jöstlein, director of the German Language School and a native of Germany.

“It's just a fun activity for children,” she said. “Most German schools in the United States celebrate St. Martin's Day.”

Children make paper lanterns and carry them in a procession while singing St. Martin's Day songs. The lanterns are lit with a key light, Jöstlein said. Adults can join in by making their own lanterns or carrying German-made lanterns that come with candles.

After the procession follows an accordion player into downtown Naperville, participants will return to city hall to feast on homemade waffles and hot chocolate.

Naperville's German Language School always has celebrated St. Martin's Day, but never before made the celebration public, Jöstlein said. This year, anyone in the community is invited to join the 80 students and their families in what could become a lasting tradition.

“If we get a few people from the outside, I will make it every year,” Jöstlein said. “It's always exciting to do something new.”