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Martensmann brings wine to Schwerin: A historical ritual returns!
On November 9th, the Lübeck Martensman returns to Schwerin to celebrate St. Martin's Day at the historic wine handover ritual.
Martensmann brings wine to Schwerin: A historical ritual returns!
The Lübeck Martensmann is on tour again and brings a touch of tradition to Schwerin. Next St. Martin's Day, November 11th, Stefan Pagel will be dressed as a 16th century Lübeck councilman and will be carrying a 100 liter barrel of Lübeck Rotspon with him. This annual custom has an exciting history that dates back to the 16th century and is now part of UNESCO's intangible cultural heritage. World reports that the Martensman is scheduled to arrive in Schwerin on November 9th, after receiving a warm welcome from the mayors there in Schönberg and Rehna.
With this custom, the city of Lübeck not only has its own wine, but also a piece of history. The people of Lübeck originally sent the wine in honor of St. Martin's Day to create social connections and maintain friendships with neighboring cities. But in the 19th century this custom was forgotten until it was revived in 1990. The first wine delivery after the revival reached Schwerin on November 10, 1991. Today, instead of white Rhine wine, the fruity Rotspon is served, which is available to everyone at the Martensmann festivals and is no longer just intended for the sovereign.
A tradition with meaning
St. Martin's Day itself, which commemorates the patron saint of travelers and the poor, Martin of Tours, has a special cultural significance in the region. Historically, this day is considered not only a festival of wine gifts, but also a time when people come together to celebrate community. This also includes a debate about whether the gift of wine from Lübeck is actually an obligation or more of a voluntary gift, which adds additional spice to the ritual.
In 2020, UNESCO recognized this custom as part of the intangible cultural heritage, which underlines its relevance. In addition to the Lübeck Martensman, numerous other traditions were added to the representative list of intangible cultural heritage on this day, including sauna culture from Finland and Taijiquan practice from China. Those interested can find more detailed information about the most recent entries on the UNESCO website, which also presents good practice examples for preserving cultural heritage. UNESCO provides a comprehensive overview of these valuable traditions here.
The anticipation of the Martensman's arrival in Schwerin is growing, and citizens can look forward to experiencing this historic and festive tradition. Another reason to put the upcoming celebration on your calendar and strengthen the community while experiencing the history of a long-gone custom first hand.