Every year, the St. Martin’s procession is a very special event that kindergarten children and primary school pupils from our school celebrate together. For weeks, the anticipation increased and the children were busy crafting, rehearsing and singing. The children created their own colorful lanterns and enthusiastically practiced the St. Martin songs. On November 8, the time had finally come: the day of the St. Martin’s procession had arrived!
The evening was supposed to start with a big picnic on the meadow, but then the weather threw a spanner in the works: it started to drizzle just in time for the start. But instead of dampening the mood, the rain brought us closer together. Without further ado, the picnic was moved to McClanahan Hall. A big thank you to all the parents who provided the food with so much love and dedication!
After the picnic, everyone moved to the church. The first contribution came from the primary school children, who opened the program with the popular song “Lichterkinder”.
Then came a special story: this year the story of “Martin the Bringer of Peace” was told. Unlike usual, the focus was not just on Martin’s kindness, but on his courage to stand up for what is right. The audience listened attentively to the story of how the Emperor Julian wanted to start a war, but Martin refused to fight. For this, the emperor threw him in prison. But the very next day, the unexpected happened: the enemies demanded peace. The story showed that Martin was more than just a coat-sharer – he was a peacemaker, a person who stood up for justice and had the courage to stand up for his convictions.
Afterwards, the primary school children created a touching moment with their song “A candle for peace”. The candles bathed the church in a warm light and filled it with a peaceful glow.
Finally, the kindergarten children performed the song “Brenn, Laterne, brenn, mein Licht” with shining eyes and loud enthusiasm.
By now the rain had stopped outside and it was finally time for the lantern procession!
With brightly lit lanterns, accompanied by the sound of guitars and singing, the procession set off across the McKean grounds. The lanterns shone in all colors and bathed the night in a vibrant sea of lights, while the children proudly presented their homemade works of art.
At the end, all the families gathered around the campfire. Here, the evening came to a cozy end with a crackling fire and bread on a stick. It was a successful celebration and a wonderful experience for the entire school community.
Jayne Zönnchen
