St Martin's...2010!

I have had the St Martin's celebrations now on for the last four years and have never been failed to be thrilled be this first celebration of the winter/Christmas season. It is particularly poignant as it is always celebrated around Rememberance Day and when we think of all the fallen - i'm no military person myself, but as a mother i feel the pain of other mothers and sisters and lovers - and we see St Martin, the pragmatic refusnik, the giving saint, who says i will not fight, but i will for a while to please my father but when i am old enough i am leaving the army and no amount of money will keep me there, i think that it is a good story to have.

My favourite part of the story is when the beggar becomes Jesus Christ and says that Martin showed great charity towards me. At this time of darkness and cold and bewildering winter, it is good to light the lanterns and to know or feel that there is someone behind you. Around you. And i think that is why i love this festival, small though it may be, so much. Because the community comes together to say were are all here for each other... long may that be so...

Pre-show jitters.... can you tell?

The boys love this play because they get to dress up as solders and generals. And carry swords and wear centurion helmets!

Did i mention the swords?

The girls did this amazing poem and the nut and how it grows into an acorn, it was really sublime.

The Horan-Villeneuve family!

Narrators!

St Martin and his father, the Roman general.

Everyone passes the beggar in the cold.

St Martin cuts his cloak in two... the kids sing this song at this point...

St. Martin, St. Martin, St. Martin
Rode through wind and snow,
His horse carried him so quick-ly on
In comfort and warmth through the cold he did go
His thick cloak around him tight-ly drawn.

In the cold snow, in the cold snow,
In the cold snow, there sat a poor old man
He wore only rags and called with choked breath,
"Oh help me please - please if you can
Or the bitter frost will mean my death."

St. Martin, St. Martin, St. Martin
Reined his horse to his side
It stood quietly by as if it knew
How with his sword, St. Martin would divide
His warm, thick cloak right in-to two.

St. Martin, St. Martin,
Gave one half to the man to put on
The grateful man turned, but before he spoke
Noble St. Martin had already gone
Wearing his half of the div-id-ed cloak.

Saint Martin lay down quietly
And then the Lord appeared in his dream.
The latter talked: "I thank you, you riderman,
For what you did to me"

Jesus appears to St Martin in a dream

The Roman General puts Martin into jail...

Here they sing the lantern song in German....

Here it is in English....

I walk with m-y bright lantern,
My lantern i-s my light
Above the sta-rs are shining,
And both of u-s are bright,
The rooster crows; the cat me-ows.
Rabimmel, rabammel, rabum.
The rooster crows; the cat me-ows.
Rabimmel, rabammel, rabum.

I walk with m-y sweet lantern,
My lantern i-s my light
Above the sta-rs are shining,
And both of u-s are bright,
St. Martin, well, he marches on.
Rabimmel, rabammel, rabum.
St. Martin, well, he marches on.
Rabimmel, rabammel, rabum.

I walk here wi-th my lantern,
My lantern i-s my light,
Above the sta-rs are shining,
And both of u-s are bright,
My little light, please stay with me!
Rabimmel, rabammel, rabum.
My little light, please stay with me!
Rabimmel, rabammel, rabum.

I walk here wi-th my lantern,
My lantern i-s my light,
Above the sta-rs are shining,
And both of u-s are bright,
A light to honor St. Martin.
Rabimmel, rabammel, rabum.
A light to honor St. Martin.
Rabimmel, rabammel, rabum.

I walk with my pretty lantern,
My lantern i-s my light,
Above the sta-rs are shining,
And both of u-s are bright,
My light is out, I'm going home.
Rabimmel, rabammel, rabum.
My light is out, I'm going home
Rabimmel, rabammel, rabum.

Here it is in German....

Ich geh mit meiner Laterne
und meine Laterne mit mir.*
Dort oben leuchten die Sterne
und unten, da leuchten wir.
Der Hahn, der kräht, die Katz miaut.
Rabimmel, rabammel, rabum.
Der Hahn, der kräht, die Katz miaut.
Rabimmel, rabammel, rabum.

Ich geh mit meiner Laterne
und meine Laterne mit mir.
Dort oben leuchten die Sterne
und unten, da leuchten wir.
Der Martinsmann, der zieht voran.
Rabimmel, rabammel, rabum.
Der Martinsmann, der zieht voran.
Rabimmel, rabammel, rabum.

Ich geh mit meiner Laterne
und meine Laterne mit mir.
Dort oben leuchten die Sterne
und unten, da leuchten wir.
Laternenlicht, verlösch mir nicht!
Rabimmel, rabammel, rabum.
Laternenlicht, verlösch mir nicht!
Rabimmel, rabammel, rabum.

Ich geh mit meiner Laterne
und meine Laterne mit mir.
Dort oben leuchten die Sterne
und unten, da leuchten wir.
Ein Lichtermeer zu Martins Ehr!
Rabimmel, rabammel, rabum.
Ein Lichtermeer zu Martins Ehr!
Rabimmel, rabammel, rabum.

Ich geh mit meiner Laterne
und meine Laterne mit mir.
Dort oben leuchten die Sterne,
Hier unten, da leuchten wir.
Mein Licht ist aus,
Rabimmel, rabammel, rabum.
Wir geh’n nach Haus.
Rabimmel, rabammel, rabum.