St. Martin!

So tonight I got to experience my first St. Martin's Day. Let me first say, that everything about this holiday is sooo freaking cute. It's based on St. Martin, who according to legend, was a Roman soldier that one cold winters day, while patrolling his area on horseback, he came across an old naked man. Because he had nothing to offer him, he took off his military cape and cut it in half and gave half of it to the old man. Later that night, Martin dreamt that Jesus was wearing the other half of his cape and that he said "I was naked and you clothed me. What you do onto others, you do onto me".. or something along those lines. So he is celebrated here with a holiday which is mostly for kids--but seeing as to how this was my first time to experience it, it was pretty exciting. A man dressed as a Roman soldier rides a horse throughout the town, and all the town's kids follow him with paper laterns (that most of them made in school). There is also a small marching band (made up of what seemed like anyone in the town that could play an instrument) at the end of the "parade" that played songs about St. Martin that all the kids sing-along to. After walking through most of the town, St. Martin leads everyone to an open field where the fire department is waiting and they light a huge bonfire. Here the kids can "meet" St. Martin, and bread is handed out to everyone. (There was a little boy there that when "St. Martin" rode by his mouth fell to the floor and I heard him say "whoa... Saint... Martin!" and he had this expression on his face like he had just met Santa Claus or something--too cute). After this, the kids then go back into town and go door-to-door to receive candy (kind of like our trick-or-treat), although after they ring the doorbell and the door is answered, the kids sing more songs about St. Martin before they get their candy. Oh my god, it's so adorable I wanted to die. At one point while walking through the town an old man was waiting on the street for the crowd to pass by. He then walked up to the man dressed as St. Martin on horseback and gave him a shot. It was hilarious. After giving it to him, he proceeded to pour shots for about 3 or so firemen that we walking with torches. It was really funny. And typical.. of all the times I leave the house WITHOUT my camera...