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''Martinisingen'' (pronounced ''Martini-zingen''; literally "Martin singing" i.e. "St. Martin Song") is an old Protestant custom which is found especially in East Friesland, but also on the Lüneburg Heath and in other parts of North and East Germany. It also goes under the names of ''Martini'' or ''Martinssingen'' and the Low German names of ''Sünnematten'' or ''Mattenherrn'' (today often erroneously corrupted to ''Matten Matten Mähren''). ''Martinisingen'' takes place on 10 November (similar to the Catholic ''Martinssingen'' on 11 November) with groups of people carrying their lanterns from house to house and singing traditional songs. == History == ''Martinisingen'' is a custom with a mix of several older elements. Traditionally 10 November was the day on which farmhands and ordinary workers were dismissed for the winter. These folk, most of whom had no property, then had to survive the coldest time of the year without any income. However, their children were able to help by going from house to house on this day and begging for food and gifts, especially from the well-to-do farmers and citizens. Originally they collected food that was then actually stored as part of their family's winter stock and could be consumed gradually. Sometimes rather older singers disguised themselves or wore masks (''sğabellenskoppen'') and joined in. Later, the gifts given out increasingly became a symbolic donation and, today, usually consist of sweets and fruit. The traditional gifts, by contrast, include gingerbread men (''Stutenkerl''), honey cakes (''Moppen'') and ''Pfeffernüsse'' (''pēpernööten'') as well as apples. The poor folk begged for gifts by reciting rhyming verses or singing suitable songs and the children carried lanterns (''kipkapköögels'') that used to be made from a beet. Later small pumpkins were occasionally used as well, but gradually, these were replaced by coloured paper lanterns as are common today. Various home-made instruments were also used such as rattles (''Rasseln'') and friction drums (''Rummelpott''). With the outbreak of the Reformation the original motive of begging to supplement winter food supplies became interwoven with religious aspects, particularly those honouring the reformer, Martin Luther, and the festival became the Protestant church's version of the original Catholic tradition.〔(HVV Holtgast / Ost-Friesland - altes Brauchtum - Martini-Singen )〕 In 1817, on the occasion of the tricentennial anniversary of the Reformation in 1517, ''Martinisingen'' was brought forward to the eve of St. Martin's Day. From then on, only Martin Luther continued to be celebrated as the "Friend of light and man of God" (''Freund des Lichts und Mann Gottes'') who "knocked the crown off the pope in Rome" (''der dem Papst in Rom die Krone vom Haupt schlug''). For example, St. Martin's Day for Martin of Tours on the 11th was brought forward and combined with ''Martinisingen'' on the 10th, the birthday of the Reformer.〔http://www.fulkum.de/IG/Brauchtum/Martinisingen/martinisingen.html〕 So, increasingly, the custom of ''Martinisingen'' became a celebration of Martin Luther and the motive of begging for food was explained as a tradition of the monastic orders. The traditional songs were given a religious flavour and new ones were written that celebrated the religious significance of the day or honoured Martin Luther. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Martinisingen」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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