Christmas Traditions and Customs: Saint Martin
The Christmas season will soon be here—a period that means so much more than just Christmas Eve, a table full of food, sweets, a decorated tree in the living room, a pile of gifts, and carols or fairy tales on TV. That’s actually a common misconception. Christmas isn't just one day a year. It’s an entire magical season full of scents, lights, traditions, small joys, and, most importantly, love. The Christmas period begins long before the first candle on the Advent wreath is lit—and I don't mean shops full of Christmas merchandise, blinking decorations in malls, or commercials telling children what to wish for. Real Christmas comes to us much more quietly. Slowly, inconspicuously, arriving as early as November, when nature settles down to rest and the first winter mood begins to creep into our days. And this is where my little Christmas story begins. Because Christmas is not just about gifts, but primarily about the stories, traditions, and moments that create the true magic of this season.
Today’s era is very hectic and completely different from what our ancestors experienced. They lived more in harmony with nature, so for them, preparations for Christmas often began quietly much earlier, perhaps even unconsciously. Every farmer and housewife had their hands full in the autumn. Fields had to be tended, crops harvested, winter preparations made, livestock cared for, and enough hay, straw, and feed secured. Everything had to be carefully stored so the family and animals would have enough to live on through the winter. This, of course, included drying mushrooms and fruit so there would be something to cook, decorate with, and snack on in the winter. For many of us, perhaps our parents, and maybe even our grandparents, Christmas only begins with the first Sunday of Advent. But what if the Christmas season and the first hint that Christmas is knocking on the door starts as early as November 11th, when St. Martin’s Day is celebrated? In my opinion, that is precisely the moment when the Christmas magic begins to subtly unfold. We will talk more about this in the chapter dedicated to St. Martin.
Saint Martin
In the November chill, when the leaves have mostly fallen and the landscape waits for the first white flakes, a holiday enters the scene that we must not overlook. That day is November 11th, St. Martin’s Day. And I claim: it is from here, from Martin, that Christmas slowly begins to knock on the door.
Who was Martin and why on a "white horse"?
Martin of Tours (316 - 397 AD) was born into a military family and originally served as a Roman soldier, later becoming a bishop. One of the most powerful stories: he met a beggar, cut his soldier's cloak in two, and gave one half to the poor man; that night, he had a dream of Jesus dressed in that very half of the cloak. Legend also says that Martin hid among geese to avoid being ordained as a bishop, but the geese betrayed him with their cackling. This led to the traditional goose feast. "On a white horse"—this image comes from a folk proverb: "St. Martin arrives on a white horse," symbolizing the first snow or the hint of winter on Nov 11th.
Traditions: Goose, Wine, and Feasting
• Goose: Why a goose? Two legends. One—the geese betrayed Martin’s attempt to hide; the second—the geese disturbed his preaching. And so, the goose ended up on the table. In the Middle Ages and in the countryside, this day was considered one of the last big feasts before the period of fasting.
• Wine: In wine-growing regions, the first young wine ("St. Martin's wine") was opened precisely on November 11th. Symbolism: The harvest is safely home, the work is done—now for a few moments of joy.
• Proverbs and Folk Signs: "On St. Martin, smoke rises from the chimney." - "On St. Martin, a good warm duvet." - "St. Martin arrives on a white horse." - "If it's clear, it will be a harsh winter." - "When frost hits on Martin's day, good wine will be born next year." - One of the oldest proverbs is, "After St. Martin, winter doesn't joke; snow and frost arrive in a hurry." (documented as early as 1617). People observed that the weather changed radically around St. Martin's Day, and it was truly considered the beginning of winter.
• Agricultural Calendar: In the countryside, contracts were finalized on this day, the master closed the season, and the farmhand received his reward.
Historical Context and Why We See It This Way Today
For our ancestors, November 11th was a day of transition: the harvest was mostly finished, animals were stabled for winter, and the household was ready. A time began when there was no longer a need to rush with outdoor work, creating space for gatherings, celebrations, and joy. With this feast, they essentially said goodbye to autumn and prepared for winter. They realized: the work has ended, now comes the calmer part of the year. Today, even if we no longer pay attention to fields, hay, and herds (or at least not all of us), we can take this symbolism as a chance to: stop, give thanks, and relax. Martin reminds us that Christmas doesn't only start with the first Sunday of Advent, but that something is already happening when November arrives and the landscape changes.
The Post-Martin Fast: 40 Days of Moderation and Preparation
Historically, it was said that after the feast of St. Martin, a less boisterous period began. Days grew shorter, nature settled into winter rest, and the household prepared for the holidays. A 40-day fast began after Martin, which meant eating moderately and saving food. People ate less meat and more grains, legumes, and simple meals so that supplies would last for the festive season, especially Christmas. Today, we can take inspiration from this: it doesn't necessarily have to be 40 days of strict fasting, but moments when we slow down, eat more mindfully, and become more aware of the food and time around it.
• Instead of the rush a few days before Christmas, we can slowly clean our homes and prepare everything for the holidays, decorating our dwellings and tuning the atmosphere gradually.
• Instead of all the haste, we can enjoy peace and quiet, pick gifts slowly, visit Advent concerts, the theater, or the cinema. We can create our own vision of a pleasant Christmas long before the last minute arrives.
• Instead of chasing everything at once, we can afford time for family and friends—make a phone call, visit loved ones, go for a walk, slowly bake cookies, and enjoy every moment. And above all, take a breath and give thanks for the opportunity to prepare everything in peace, enjoying the pre-holiday time slowly, without stress, with a sense of joy and well-being.
• Instead of chasing everything at once, we can afford time for family and friends—make a phone call, visit loved ones, go for a walk, slowly bake cookies, and enjoy every moment. And above all, take a breath and give thanks for the opportunity to prepare everything in peace, enjoying the pre-holiday time slowly, without stress, with a sense of joy and well-being.
I want to explain why I started writing about St. Martin and Christmas traditions today. The day before yesterday, I released a Christmas challenge, and I’m finding that not everyone has joined in yet. Some can't tune into the Christmas theme just yet, claiming that Christmas hasn't started.
→ Christmas is coming, let's write our own story!
But I want to open up our traditional customs that are already slowly starting Christmas, because it is already knocking on the gate. And so I decided to write about St. Martin, who in my opinion is exactly the beginning of opening the door to our Christmas. It’s not about anything commercial, but about tradition. And why not exactly on November 11th? The day when the first snow arrives, showing a hint of winter and the end of autumn? Today, in my opinion, our Christmas tuning can begin—not a rush and stress, but a Christmas mood. After all, for a few days now, TV has even been showing the Kofola commercial, which is slowly becoming a Christmas tradition. I will gradually release more articles where I will write down our various traditional customs and Christmas moods. I believe it will get you in the spirit and you'll join my challenge.
I wish you a beautiful rest of the evening, and hopefully, St. Martin brought the first snow to someone. Today was quite clear and beautiful weather, so according to the proverb, a harsh winter awaits us.
Thank you for reading my story about Martin this far, and you can look forward to more customs and traditions soon.
Good night.
Good night.
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Illustration created using Gemini AI.
(To avoid copyright issues, the images are not downloaded from the internet.)
