Photos by Alex Nazath
HOLMDEL – Children celebrated the Festival of the Lanterns Nov. 7 at The German Language School of Holmdel, located at the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd. The day is in honor of St. Martin, a Roman soldier who became a monk and was made the patron saint of the poor in early Christianity. St. Martin met a beggar on his way home late one evening and, seeing the man shivering by the side of the road, tore his own cloak in half to share with him. Today, the tradition is celebrated with young children making paper lanterns and singing songs to honor the saint, with lantern parades at dusk throughout villages in many European countries. Families and local businesses hand out sweets and treats to the parading students.
