The History and Importance of Martinmas

The Life of St. Martin of Tours

While the general contours of St. Martin’s life may be known to many Catholics, the historic readings from Matins contain a succinct but deeper account:

Martin was born at Sabaria in Pannonia. When he was ten years old he went to the Church, in the spite of his (heathen) father and mother, and by his own will was numbered among the Catechumens. At fifteen years of age he joined the army, and served as a soldier first under Constantius and then under Julian. Once at the gate of Amiens a poor man asked him for an alms for Christ's name's sake, and since he had nothing to his hand but his arms and his clothes, he gave him half of his cloak. In the night following Christ appeared to him clad in the half of his cloak, and saying (to the angels who bare Him company) “While Martin is yet a Catechumen, he hath clad Me in this garment”.

At eighteen years of age he was baptized. He gave up thereupon the life of a soldier, and betook himself to Hilary, Bishop of Poitiers, by whom he was placed in the order of Acolytes. Being afterwards made Bishop of Tours, he built a monastery wherein he lived in holiness for a while in company of four-score monks. At the last he fell sick of a grievous fever at Cande, a village in his diocese, and besought God in constant prayer to set him free from the prison of this dying body. His disciples heard him and said “Father, why wilt thou go away from us? unto whom wilt thou bequeath us in our sorrow?” Their words moved Martin, and he said, “Lord, if I be still needful to thy people, I refuse not to work”. 

When his disciples saw him, in the height of the fever, lying upon his back and praying, they entreated him to turn over and take a little rest upon his side while the violence of his sickness would allow him. But Martin answered them, “Suffer me to look heavenward rather than earthward, that my spirit may see the way whereby it is so soon going to the Lord”. At the moment of death he saw the enemy of mankind, and cried out: “What are you come here for, you bloody brute? You murderer, you'll find nothing in me”. With these words on his lips, he gave up his soul to God, being aged eighty years. He was received by a company of Angels, who were heard praising God by many persons, especially by holy Severinus, Bishop of Cologne.

Martinmas Customs

Whether always honored or not, there was a practice among German-speaking Catholics, particularly in the Rhineland, of beginning Martinmas at the 11th minute of the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of the year. Bonfires would be lit on the eve of Martinmas or the day itself, with a candlelit procession taking place, typically led by a man on horseback dressed as the saint. Children were encouraged to follow behind, offering prayers and singing songs in honor of the day. One of the more popular, Sankt Martin ritt durch Schnee und Wind, reads in English translation as follows

Saint Martin, Saint Martin, Saint Martin
rode through snow and wind,
his horse carried him away swiftly.
Saint Martin rode with light courage:
his cloak covered him warmly and well.

In the snow sat, sat
in the snow, there sat a poor man in the snow,
had no clothes, wore rags.
"Oh help me in my need,
otherwise the bitter frost will be my death!"

Saint Martin, Saint Martin,
Saint Martin pulled on the reins,
his horse stood still with the poor man,
Saint Martin with the sword
parted his warm cloak without stopping.

Saint Martin, Saint Martin
Saint Martin gave the half still,
the beggar wanted to thank him quickly.
But Saint Martin rode
away in haste with his cloak part.

Saint Martin, Saint Martin,
Saint Martin lays down wearily to rest,
and in the dream the Lord entered.
He wears the piece of the cloak as a
robe, his countenance radiates loveliness.

Saint Martin, Saint Martin,
Saint Martin looks at him in amazement,
the Lord shows him the way.
He introduces him to his church,
and Martin wants to be his disciple.

Saint Martin, Saint Martin,
Saint Martin even became a priest
and served devoutly at the altar,
which probably adorns him right up to the grave, at
last he carried the bishop's staff.

Saint Martin, Saint Martin,
Saint Martin, O you man of God,
now listen to our prayers,
O pray for us at this time
and lead us to salvation.

Along with these public displays of piety came much feasting. While dishes varied from region to region, the consumption of the “Martinmas goose” or “Martinmas beef” would be joined with the first consumption of the season’s wine. Children who participated in the aforementioned Martinmas processions might also find themselves rewarded with various treats, not unlike those received at Christmas.

In even earlier times, starting around the sixth century, the Latin Church had designated the period from St. Martin’s Day to Epiphany (January 6) as a 56-day period of fasting. With weekends excluded, this resulted in 40 days of actual fasting comparable to Lent, leading to this time being referred to as Quadragesima Sancti Martini or St. Martin’s Lent. Today, this period has been shortened considerably in the West to the time known as Advent.

Even so, the celebratory nature of Martinmas leading into a period of ascetical preparation should not be lost on Catholics today. With modern society turning the “Christmas Season” (now typically starting as early as November 1) into a period of consumerism and cheap entertainment, recalling the historic role Martinmas played as an entryway into a time of expectation for Our Lord’s Incarnation is more important than ever. Americans accustomed to “transferring” the celebratory nature of Martinmas to the secular holiday Thanksgiving can still keep the feast’s spirit alive by putting aside all revelry on the Friday after and turning their minds toward God, the coming of His Son, and the beginning of our Salvation.