The legend of Saint Martin and the miracle of the cape

The first ten days of November have always been characterized by means of an atypical climatic phenomenon, the so-called San Martín summer season. In fact, it normally occurs that within the days before and after November 11, Saint Martin's Day, the climate becomes mild once more, only to get worse right away afterwards. The legend of Saint Martin picturesquely tells the motive for this remaining breath of summer time earlier than the appearance of wintry weather.

Martin of Tours was born in present-day Hungary in the 4th century AD. Before turning into a bishop and later being proclaimed a saint, Martin became a Roman soldier serving within the imperial guard. The legend of San Martín tells that one night, at some point during one of the surveillance patrols that he needed to perform, Martín encountered a chilly beggar, protected handiest in some rags. The night became very bloodless, rain began pouring from the sky, and the soldier felt pity for that wretch who was shivering and who was certainly going to die earlier than dawn.

So, without hesitation, he took off the white cloak that symbolized his membership within the imperial guard, and with his sword, he reduced it in half, giving a component to the terrible guy. At that moment, the rain stopped falling, the clouds parted, and an unnatural heat unfolded in the environment, as if the sky were rejoicing at the piety and generosity of that young soldier.

A variant of the legend of Saint Martin says that, after assembly the beggar, the saint had met some other guy in even more miserable situations and had given him what turned into the left of his cloak, adapting to napping within the bloodless. That night, Jesus might have seemed to him in his goals and would have thanked him for having clothed him and saved him from the cold of the night.

Irrespective of how it is instructed, the legend of Saint Martin shows us an instance of fantastic altruism, generosity, and mercy. After this sudden come upon, Martín wanted to be baptized and deserted navy lifestyles. A outstanding parent in Western medieval religious records but also honored by way of the Orthodox and Coptic church buildings, he was one of the founders of monasticism inside the West, fought against Arian heresy and paganism, became bishop of tours, and gained popularity as a miracle employee and high-quality shepherd of souls.

The summer season of Saint The legend of Saint Martin and the miracle of the cape

Beyond the spiritual value of the history of Saint Martin, his festival has usually coincided with popular peasant traditions and folklore customs connected to autumn and the change of seasons. In historic instances, on the summer days of Saint Martin, the barrels were opened to taste the brand new wine, roasted chestnuts had been harvested and cooked, and pumpkin-based products had been fed on. In many Italian villages and towns, those traditions are still maintained these days in the form of picturesque gala's. In the rest of Europe, Saint Martin is likewise celebrated with characteristic festivals and customs.

There are many ordinary candies that are prepared for the banquet of Saint Martin, from the Venetian Saint Martin's Cake, manufactured from shortcrust pastry within the shape of the saint on horseback with a sword and cape, embellished with colored icing, to sweets and candies; even the Sicilian St. Martin's cookies, flavored with anise seeds and dipped in wine; passing through the sfinci, or sfingi, of Saint Martin, sweet fritters are continually cherished through Sicilian traditions.

In a few regions of the Padana plain, "Fare San Martino" (Do San Martino) continues to be synonymous with "shifting." In reality, within the days coinciding with the San Martín summer season, the sharecroppers who labored at the big agricultural farms had already finished their work. The fields have been planted, and, until the proprietor renewed their settlement, the peasants had to abandon the farm and look for paintings in some other place. So they took advantage of the best climate of the San Martín summer to go away, taking their belongings and their own family with them to transport to any other farm.