Winter solstice

“Ich geh mit meiner Laterne, und meine Laterne mit mir..”

This lovely children’s song is traditionally sung at the lantern parade on St Martin’s Day in Germany. In the dark November evening, children clutching their school made lanterns walk along narrow cobbled streets behind a man riding a white horse. He represents the fourth century figure Martin of Tours, the Roman soldier who became a convert to Christianity and reluctantly became a bishop after his whereabouts were betrayed by the loud cackling of geese. Tonight I was reminded of this custom when Brunswick South Primary School held a Winter Solstice festival.

 

I attended a St Martin’s Parade years ago, in Ladenburg, with my own little child and his playgroup friends and their families. There were some parallels: like Ladenburg, this one was full of excited children whose parents were bracing against the cold with a glass or two of wine.
It is ironic that in this most urban of environments, the emergence of seasonal celebrations is getting stronger. Down in Hobart they are celebrating Dark MoFo and I recently reported on the Melbourne adaptation of the long night idea taken from European Summer Solstice events.

 

 Instead of St Martin, there was a Green Moon, who led the parade around the school grounds. Sadly there was no singing.

 

 

 

 

“Dort oben leuchten die Sterne, hier unten leuchten wir. Mein Licht ist aus, wir gehn nach Haus…”