St. Martin's Day
Description:
It was autumn: the field was whistling, a sharp cold wind howling. It went right through. The soldiers dreamed of a warm hearth and accelerated the step. They have already entered the city gate. The soldiers did not notice an old, half-naked man sitting at the city gate. From the cold and hunger he beat his teeth and in a trembling voice begged for a small alms. But the soldiers passed by him with firm, fast steps. They did not honor the beggar even with a look. Martin, who led his legion, sat on horseback in an ornate, long red cape. When he saw a cold and hungry beggar begging for alms, to the surprise of the soldiers, he stopped the legion and drew a sword. The soldiers didn't understand what was going on. What's he gonna do? Why did he get the sword? There is a helpless man before him, a beggar. And Martin calmly took his left hand for his red cape and cut off half of it with a sharp sword, then quickly threw a piece of the cape into the hands of a beggar. Then he took bread from the bag and gave it to the beggar. The old man wanted to thank Martin, but he was already entering the town of Amis.
Since then, St. Martin is considered the patron saint of the poor, soldiers, clothmakers, domestic animals and birds, as well as alpine shepherds.
On St. Martin’s Day, after the completion of rural work, first of all, bonfires were lit on every street and in every courtyard. In these bonfires threw baskets, in which recently lay the fruit. Through these fires jumped and staged processions, lighting torches from their fire. These processions were attended by dressed men: St. Martin on horseback and Martinov a man - a boy, whose body and limbs were wrapped in straw.