t Is Sint Maarten
In Eastern Flanders in Belgium, Saint Martin comes and brings sweets and presents in the middle of the night between November 10th and 11th. The sweets that the kids normally would get are: chocolate figurines, chocolate letters, little dry cookies with a sugar topping, marzipan figurines, butter cakes with almond filling in the form of letters, citrus fruits, and a special cookie in the shape of Saint Nicolas made of a spicy dough, and also some small hard round cookies with spices.
Children all over Belgium parade with lanterns when it gets dark, singing St. Martin's Day songs. Here's one of the songs they sing...
t Is Sint Maarten
It's Saint Martin's
St. Martin's Day Song
St. Martin's Day Song
(Dutch)
(English)
t Is Sint Maarten
t Is Sint Maarten
t Is Sint Maarten,
Heel leuk feest,
Heel leuk feest,
Wij kloppen bij u aan
en brengen u een lichtje
wij lopen langs de deuren
en zingen nu een liedje
Speciaal voor u!
Speciaal voor u!
It's Saint Martin's
It's Saint Martin's
It's nice to celebrate,
It's nice to celebrate,
We knock at your door
And bring you a little light
We run along to all the doors
And sing now a song
Especially for you!
Especially for you!
Notes
Translated by Mama Lisa and Tatie Monique.
Thanks and Acknowledgements
Many thanks to Randy Welvaert for information about this holiday.
Dank u wel!
