I Miss St. Martin of Tours

Today is Veteran’s Day in America, and in Europe, it is the patron saint day of St. Martin of Tours (patron saint of France) who, on a cold winter’s night, saw a beggar freezing and took his own warm red cape and split it in half with his sword and gave the begger half.

(I’ve always wondered why he didn’t give the beggar the whole cloak?)

All over Germany, a rider portrays St. Martin in towns and villages, and little children with lanterns on sticks greet him with songs.

Here, you can spend six minutes in a German village, experiencing the St. Martin’s Day parade and the arrival of St. Martin on his horse:

Today is also the beginning of the St. Martin’s goose season, one I used to wait for avidly while living in Germany. Oh Yummmmm.

Happy Veteran’s Day, to all those who have proudly served or are proudly serving our country.

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