St. Martin in Demmin: Lantern Festival delights young and old!

St. Martin in Demmin: Lantern Festival delights young and old!

In the Hanseatic city of Demmin, a unique lantern festival was celebrated for St. Martin's Day on November 11, 2025, which captivated numerous families and children. This day traditionally honors Saint Martin of Tours, who became famous for his good deed by sharing his cloak with a cold beggar. This warm sharing was also at the center of the festival, which, how Northern Courier reports that young people re-enacted it in St. Bartholomaei Church.

The performance, which was performed by students from the “Katharina von Bora” Evangelical School Center, attracted many visitors. Accompanying the history of St. Martin, church music director Prof. Thomas Beck provided the appropriate musical background on the organ, while trombone choirs from Demmin and Beggerow under the direction of Leandra Söffky provided festive sounds. Alke-Nele Acker, a community educator, was tireless in emphasizing the importance of sharing and humanity after the faceoff.

Sharing and giving in the spirit of St. Martin

The Lantern Festival was not only a cultural event, but also a sign of solidarity. Visitors brought lovingly wrapped gift packages for needy families and children in Czaplinek, Poland. These selfless donations were gladly accepted and can also be dropped off at the community center in the coming days. Alke-Nele Acker spoke of the festival being “the festival of open hearts” – an invitation to everyone to reflect on one another and help one another.

After the kick-off, a traditional St. Martin's parade began, led by Mara Heuer from the Gribow riding stable, who rode on horseback in a red coat. The children, proudly with their colorful lanterns, accompanied the procession, which led through the streets of the city and to the Catholic Church “Maria Rosarykönigin”. There the participants experienced another musical highlight from the trombone choirs.

Traditional treats and conviviality

When they arrived at their destination, a small fire warmed the parade participants. Students from the Goethe-Gymnasium offered hearty sausages, delicious waffles and warm drinks - a real highlight for the hungry festival visitors. Another traditional custom also received attention: the sharing of St. Martin's croissants, which commemorated the good deed of St. Martin and provided a feeling of community.

Historically, St. Martin's Day has a long tradition in Europe and is often associated with celebrating the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter. In many regions, including Germany and the Netherlands, children parade through the streets with lanterns and sing songs, with the rider representing St. Martin often at the center of the celebrations. In Demmin, not only is tradition lived, but the values ​​of charity and community are also upheld - something that is particularly important today.

The lantern festival in Demmin was not only a festival of lights, but also a shining example of community spirit and solidarity that captivated all visitors and warmed the hearts.