Saint Martin’s Day

Saint Martin’s Day for the year 2023 is celebrated/observed on Friday, November 11th. There are until the next observance.

The feast day of Saint Martin of Tours, a baptized Roman soldier who became the bishop of a French town, is celebrated on November 11. During a snowfall, he is known to tear his cloak in half and share it with a beggar. On the same night, he had a dream in which Jesus, wrapped in a half-cloak, told angels, “Here is Martin, the Roman soldier who is now baptized; he has clothed me.” On November 8, 397, Saint Martin died and was buried three days later. His feast day is sometimes called Saint Martin’s Feast, Martinmas, Old Halloween, or Old Hallowmas Eve.

📆 When is Saint Martin’s Day?

This year, Saint Martin’s Day is on November 11th. It is the 2nd Friday in November; in 2023, it is on Saturday.

→ Did you know: St. Martin is the world’s tiniest inhabited island, shared between France and the Netherlands.

You can also see all fascinating things you didn’t know about and facts about November 11, 2022.

📜 History of Saint Martin’s Day

Martinmas festivities in some countries begin on the 11th minute of the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month-or on November 11 at 11:11 a.m. Others begin their celebrations on November 10th, St. Martin’s Eve. Fasting was mandated by church councils in the sixth century, except on Saturdays and Sundays, between Saint Martin’s Day and the Epiphany on January 6. This fasting period was known as’ Quadragesima Sancti Martini, ‘orSaint Martin’s Lent, and was analogous to Lent’s 40-day fast. Prior to its evolution into the current Advent ritual, it was infrequently observed.

Saint Martin’s Day celebrations today frequently include feasts, dancing, and bonfires. After dusk, youngsters walk around the streets with lanterns, singing songs that earn them sweet prizes.

☑️ Saint Martin’s Day facts

✅ A constitutional country
Sint Maarten, the Dutch portion of the island, is one of the four component nations of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

✅ A map of Saint Martin
Saint Martin is roughly split in half, with the French side being about 20 square miles bigger than the Dutch side.

✅ A large population
The Dutch part of the island has a greater population, estimated at 41,177 people, whereas the French side has around 32,489 people.

✨ Things to do on Saint Martin’s Day

⚡ Participate in the celebrations
Saint Martin’s Day is observed in many ways across the world. Invite your family to join the colorful parade and hold painted paper lanterns.

⚡ Eat goose
Devotees frequently eat goose for Saint Martin’s Day dinner after the lantern parade. To celebrate the custom, try the delectable food!

⚡ Enjoy grapes and local wine
Saint Martin, France’s patron saint, is considered to have assisted in the expansion of winemaking throughout the country. With the locals, sample the native grapes and wine.

📅 Saint Martin’s Day Observances

Learn all November holidays, including Religious and other Catholic holidays.

We will continue to update this page with new information and interesting facts about Saint Martin’s Day. So be sure to check back soon.