Martini in South Tyrol

Saint Martin is not only revered by Catholics, but is also highly regarded by the Orthodox, Anglicans, and Protestants. He was born at the beginning of the 4th century in the Roman province of Pannonia, in present-day Hungary. He initially served as an officer in the Roman army, soon converted to the Christian faith, and was baptized. After the end of his military service, he moved to Gaul, where he founded monasteries and was ordained as the Bishop of Tours in 372.

Saint Martin is famous primarily because of two legends: One tells of Martin encountering a poor, naked man outside the gates of Amiens on a cold winter day during his military service. He had nothing with him except his weapons and his military cloak. In an act of mercy, he shared his cloak with the sword and gave half to the beggar. That night, Christ appeared to him in a dream, wearing the same half cloak.

The other legend revolves around Martin's appointment as bishop. Because he did not consider himself worthy of this office, Martin hid in a goose pen. The geese, however, revealed his hiding place with their agitated honking, and he was discovered and consecrated as bishop.

This legend also explains the tradition of the Martinmas feast, known simply as "Martinigansl" in South Tyrol and Austria. According to another legend, it was a flock of ducks or geese that disrupted a sermon by Saint Martin with their quacking, prompting him to roast them on the spot.

The actual origin of this tasty tradition is likely that in the Middle Ages, a tribute to the feudal lord, often in the form of a goose, was due on Martinmas. Additionally, November 11th marked the beginning of the forty-day fasting period before Christmas in the Byzantine Church and throughout Europe into the Middle Ages. On the day before, people were allowed to feast one last time, similar to Carnival.

Martini is particularly celebrated in Girlan, as this is also the feast day of the church's patron saint and the harvest festival. The church consecration festival, the "Kirchtig," with the large market, is therefore an occasion for a cozy get-together with a lot of delicacies to enjoy. In Eppan, the traditional festival shooting also takes place around Martini at the oldest shooting range in South Tyrol.

In many regions of southern Germany, Austria, and also in South Tyrol, parades are also part of the Martinmas celebration. After Martin's death, his body was brought to Tours in a procession of lights on a boat, and that is why children still parade through the streets with lanterns and sing songs.