Lantern-carrying youngsters will follow a horse backed ‘saint’ around Old Aberdeen’s King’s College quadrangle this evening (Tuesday, November 11) to celebrate St Martin’s Day.
www.stmartininthefields.org" border="0" height="465" hspace="5" src="https://www.abdn.ac.uk/news/images/media-releases/media2/325STMARTIN.jpg" title="(C) www.stmartininthefields.org" vspace="10" width="350"/>Staff members at the University
of Aberdeen have organised the parade
as part of the European-wide celebrations for St Martin,
a former Roman soldier turned monk who was renowned for his generosity.
The most famous legend surrounding St
Martin is that he once used his sword to cut his cloak in half so
he could share it with a beggar during a snowstorm, saving the man's life – a
scene that staff and students will re-enact tonight.
Around 30 children from the University's Rocking Horse
nursery will carry lanterns around the quadrangle at King's College. They will
follow a horse ridden by music lecturer Frauke Jurgensen, who takes the role of
St Martin with student Katarina Geier playing
the beggar.
The parade, which traditionally celebrates the end of the
agrarian year and the beginning of harvest, originated in France but spread to
Eastern Europe before becoming popular in Germany and the Netherlands.
The Chaplain to the University, Rev Easter Smart, who will
lead a service of music of song in King's College Chapel after the parade,
said: "Re-enacting St Martin's generous act is an appropriate way to lift our spirits
at a time of Remembrance because his sword, which was once used in war, was used
to serve the neediest.
"Aside from the symbolism, the parade is also wonderful fun
for the children who attend nursery on campus, and who all made their own
lanterns for the procession. There's a magical quality to the evening and it is
an uplifting experience for everyone involved."
The parade will take place at 5.30pm at King's College quadrangle.