Soon it will be Saint Martin's Day again. On November 11th to be precise. Maybe you remember it from when you were young or have heard how your parents used to do it. But during Saint Martin's Day, children, along with their parents, go door-to-door with lanterns and sing songs in exchange for treats. But where does this tradition actually come from?
What is Saint Martin's Day?
Time for a brief history lesson. Because who is this Saint Martin anyway? Saint Martin was a bishop of Tours who passed away on November 11th. Various stories surround the saintly man. One of these stories is that Saint Martin helped a sick beggar by giving him his cloak. The beggar was protected from the cold and became better. As a result, Saint Martin quickly became known for his kindness and ability to perform miracles. But where do those quirky lanterns come from? Traditionally, on November 11th, charity feasts were organized for poor people. They were allowed to go door-to-door to collect food and drinks. Combining these two traditions gives you Saint Martin's Day as it is celebrated today. Of course, we must mention that this is one of the stories about the origin of Saint Martin's Day; there are countless others that circulate.
Making Lanterns
Do you want to celebrate Saint Martin's Day by going door-to-door with your child? Then you'll need a lantern! In fact, you can easily make a lantern yourself, it costs nothing, and you probably already have most of the materials at home. Plus, making lanterns together with your child is a fun activity that you will both enjoy. Moreover, crafting is great for children's motor skills. Cutting, decorating, sticking: they all stimulate creativity, and you can make it as easy or as difficult as you want.
Milk Carton Lantern
A lantern that children often learn to make at school - and that you can also put together at home with them - is a milk carton lantern. You'll never guess what you need for this: a milk carton! Oh, and of course, some items to decorate your lantern. Think glitter, colored transfer paper, a string, and scissors or a hole punch to turn it into a real lantern. Start by cutting out a few fun shapes from the milk carton, such as making it into a little house by cutting out windows and a door from the carton. Then you can fill the cut-out shapes with the transfer paper or tissue paper. When you hang a light inside, it will give off all kinds of colors!
