Many Mülheim residents still believe that there were no little bird songs for St. Martin anywhere else. Even though the lyrics and melody certainly varied from place to place, here, for example, even the name of the song is the same. I leave the text in the original because it is easy for many to understand.
From: Traditie, autumn 2002
The celebration of Sinter Merte in Beringe (Limburg)
In our village, the anniversary of Saint Martin’s death is celebrated every year on November 11. The party is mainly for children in primary school. In the lowest grades of primary school we were allowed to make a lantern for the parade during the craft lesson. The story of Saint Martin was also told every year. Cutting his cloak in half to give the beggar warmth made a big impression on me, as I can still remember it well now, 10 years later. On the day of the party we always received an oliebol (Krapfen) at school.
There are several neighborhood associations active in our village. Each neighborhood association has a number of streets. My neighborhood is called De Schiildersbuurt, because most street names are named after Sehilders. The parades to the fire itself were organized separately by each neighborhood association. The standard starting point for the parade was always ‘t Veldje, a playing field in my street. From there we walked in a lantern procession to the fire, always with the song ‘Sinter Mertes Veugelke’ was sung. When we arrived at the fire, we played and ate an oliebol. We, the children, also blackened each other’s faces with the soot from the branches. Everyone had to believe whether you wanted to or not. I never found that to be that bad, because the soot was quite rough to apply.
After about an hour I went home with my mother, brother, girl and boy across the street where we ate pea soup and then oliebollen. After the death, my mother would wipe the soot off our faces with butter, a tragedy every year because I don’t like butter. I was allowed from group 5 onwards going door to door with friends to ask for sweets (Süßigkeiten). ‘Sinter Mertes Veugelke” was also sung then.
I participated in Sinter Merte until group eight. In secondary school no attention was paid to Sint Maarten, which caused most young people to drop out.
Saint Martin is still celebrated in my old hometown. A few things have changed. The primary school has been involved in the organization for two years. The parade and the fire are arranged together with all neighborhood associations. Also new is that the fanfa-
re leads the procession to the fire.
Cindy Jansen
