Question 1

On which date is St Martin's Day (Martinmas) celebrated?

Accepted Answer

11 November. St Martin's Day is the feast day of Saint Martin of Tours, celebrated on 11 November. In many parts of Europe it marked the end of the harvest and the start of winter.

Question 2

According to the best-known story about Saint Martin, what did he do for a beggar near Amiens?

Accepted Answer

Cut his cloak in half and shared it. Martin, then a Roman soldier stationed in Gaul, met a scantily clad beggar at the gates of Amiens and cut his military cloak in half to share it with him.

Question 3

Of which city did Martin become bishop in 371?

Accepted Answer

Tours. In 371 Martin succeeded Litorius as the third bishop of Tours, in what is now France, where he is buried.

Question 4

In the legend behind the Martinmas goose, which animals gave away Martin's hiding place when he tried to avoid becoming a bishop?

Accepted Answer

Geese. In the legend Martin hid in a pen of geese, whose cackling gave him away. Goose is eaten at Martinmas in most places, and the Martinsgans is typical in Germany.

Question 5

In Germany, what do children carry in the Martinstag processions known as Laternelaufen?

Accepted Answer

Lanterns they have made. Children walk in processions carrying lanterns, often made at school, and sing St Martin's songs. Many end at a bonfire (Martinsfeuer), and a man on horseback often plays St Martin.

Question 6

In the Rhineland, the traditional Martinmas pastry called Martinshörnchen is shaped like what?

Accepted Answer

A croissant. The Martinshörnchen is a croissant-shaped pastry that recalls the hooves of St Martin's horse and, as half a pretzel, the parting of his cloak.

Question 7

In the Netherlands, children traditionally went door to door on 11 November with lanterns made from which vegetable?

Accepted Answer

Sugar beet. They carried lanterns made of hollowed-out sugar beet, since replaced by paper lanterns, and sang songs such as "Sinte Sinte Maarten" to receive sweets or fruit.

Question 8

Saint Martin is the patron saint of which of these Dutch cities?

Accepted Answer

Utrecht. In the Netherlands Martin is the patron of the cathedral and city of Utrecht. He is also the patron of Groningen, whose Martinikerk and Martini tower are named for him.

Question 9

In Ieper (Ypres) and the Westhoek in Belgium, which figure brings children toys and sweets instead of Sinterklaas?

Accepted Answer

Sint-Maarten (Saint Martin). Flanders' inventory of intangible heritage notes that in Ieper it is Sint-Maarten, not Sinterklaas, who brings toys and sweets. Children there traditionally carried self-made sugar-beet lanterns in the processions.

Question 10

At a Portuguese magusto on São Martinho, what is traditionally roasted over the embers?

Accepted Answer

Chestnuts. The magusto is celebrated around a bonfire with chestnuts roasted under the embers, accompanied by drinks such as água-pé or jeropiga. A saying goes: "É dia de São Martinho: comem-se castanhas, prova-se o vinho."

Question 11

What is the "Verão de São Martinho" (St Martin's Summer) in Portugal?

Accepted Answer

A spell of good weather at this time of year. The period is popular because of the usual spell of good weather in Portugal in early November, called Verão de São Martinho. Portuguese versions of the legend even have rain instead of snow, ended by Jesus.

Question 12

In Italy, where does the name "estate di San Martino" (St Martin's summer) come from?

Accepted Answer

From the feast of St Martin on 11 November, around which mild, sunny weather often returns. Italian Wikipedia defines the estate di San Martino as an autumn period of fair weather and relative warmth after the first cold, named because St Martin is celebrated on 11 November.

Question 13

Which Austrian state marks 11 November as a state holiday, with winemakers opening their cellars for the Martiniloben?

Accepted Answer

Burgenland. Burgenland Tourism calls 11 November a state holiday (Landesfeiertag) in Burgenland, and describes the Martiniloben as an old winegrowers' custom: cellars open to taste the young wine, usually with goose on the menu.

Question 14

In Galicia, the saying "A cada cerdo le llega su San Martín" is used to say what?

Accepted Answer

That wrongdoers eventually get their comeuppance. St Martin's Day was the traditional day for slaughtering fattened pigs for the winter in Galicia, hence the saying, used to mean that wrongdoers eventually get their comeuppance.

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All 14 questions

1. On which date is St Martin's Day (Martinmas) celebrated?

2. According to the best-known story about Saint Martin, what did he do for a beggar near Amiens?

3. Of which city did Martin become bishop in 371?

4. In the legend behind the Martinmas goose, which animals gave away Martin's hiding place when he tried to avoid becoming a bishop?

5. In Germany, what do children carry in the Martinstag processions known as Laternelaufen?

6. In the Rhineland, the traditional Martinmas pastry called Martinshörnchen is shaped like what?

7. In the Netherlands, children traditionally went door to door on 11 November with lanterns made from which vegetable?

8. Saint Martin is the patron saint of which of these Dutch cities?

9. In Ieper (Ypres) and the Westhoek in Belgium, which figure brings children toys and sweets instead of Sinterklaas?

10. At a Portuguese magusto on São Martinho, what is traditionally roasted over the embers?

11. What is the "Verão de São Martinho" (St Martin's Summer) in Portugal?

12. In Italy, where does the name "estate di San Martino" (St Martin's summer) come from?

13. Which Austrian state marks 11 November as a state holiday, with winemakers opening their cellars for the Martiniloben?

14. In Galicia, the saying "A cada cerdo le llega su San Martín" is used to say what?