MARTINMAS THE FEAST DAY OF ST MARTIN OF TOURS (316 AD- 397 AD) 11th NOVEMBER
MARTINMAS THE FEAST DAY OF ST MARTIN OF TOURS (316 AD- 397 AD) 11th NOVEMBER Today follows upon Michaelmas with Martinmas - the Feast Day of St Martin - a day to commemorate the death and burial of St Martin of Tours. Martinmas heralds the dark of the European winter; St Martin was renowned for his gentleness and his ability to bring warmth and light to those who needed it – traditional celebrations therefore emphasise light in the darkness and kindness to others less fortunate. St Martin lived from 316-397 AD, a soldier and one of the Roman emperor’s elite Prateorian Guard. However, he converted to Christianity, and soon after his conversion, he came upon a poor drunk beggar huddled against the cold under an archway in Amiens. St Martin took his cloak and tore it in half, giving half of it to the beggar, covering him to warm him. The following night, he had a dream in which an angel was wearing his cloak. The authors of the Bad Catholics Guide to Good Living continue the story*: “Hav...