What is St. Martin all about ?

I can remember the cold and dark November nights in Duesseldorf, Germany. All the kids had been busy for weeks creating their lanterns. There were all different styles, some were huge , some were tiny, some very elaborate and some very simple, but they all were beautiful.
On the night of the 11th of November we would start our procession. Following St. Martin in his read coat on his white horse we would walk through the old part of town singing the traditional songs and holding up our illuminated lanterns.
We all knew the story behind this tradition:
St Martin is riding home through dark woods. He is cold, tired and hungry. He comes upon a beggar, who is freezing and starving and begs him for help. St. Martin takes his sword and cuts his coat in half, one half he gives to the beggar and one half he wraps around himself. Then he cuts his only remaining loaf of bread and passes one half to the beggar as well. He saves the life of that poor person.
Happy St. Martin.

Jackie MacLeod