Western Europe has many harvest celebrations each autumn, including Oktoberfest, Martinsmas, and Saint Leopold's Day.
Martinmas
The end of the harvest season was marked in Western Europe by the religious celebration of Saint Martin of Tours, also known as Martinmas. Held on November 11, the activities of Martinmas are similar to those of Carnival, held just before Lent. In France, Saint Martin is strongly associated with the grape harvest, in the wine producing regions.
Popular traditions of Martinmas include a parade led by a figure representing Saint Martin, and children carrying lanterns. Because Martinmas falls on the heels of the autumn slaughter, there was much feasting on fresh meat and newly tapped casks of wine. Even though this is a Catholic tradition, today many Protestant areas of France, the Netherlands and Germany celebrate Martinmas. Since Saint Martin is the patron saint of beggars, children knock on neighbor’s doors, asking for treats, making it similar to the American custom of Halloween.
During the Protestant Reformation, to counter Martinsmas, many protestant Germans began celebrating the birthday of Martin Luther instead. Martin Luther was born on November 10, 1483 and named after Saint Martin of Tours.
Martinmas, though strongly associated with France, is celebrated in most parts of Catholic Europe.
Oktoberfest
Probably the most famous harvest festival in Western Europe is Germany’s Oktoberfest. Held between third weekend in September and the first Sunday of October, Oktoberfest has become a major tourist destination. Even though it coincides with the end of the harvest season in Germany, Oktoberfest originated as a result of the royal marriage of King Ludwig I of Bavaria to Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghause, on October 12, 1810.
Oktoberfest officially starts when the mayor of Munich taps the first barrel of beer. There are beer gardens, parades and people dressed up in colorful peasant garb.
Erntedankfest: Thanksgiving in Germany
Another harvest festival in Germany is Erntedankfest, usually celebrated on the first Sunday of October. This official German holiday is part of rural life and often incorporated into a church service. It is often compared to the holiday of Thanksgiving in America. Fattened chickens are served for dinner, and a harvest crown called an Erntekrone is made from ears of grain, wildflowers and fruit. The erntekrone is taken as part of processional through the town to the local parish church.
Saint Leopold’s Feast Day
In Austria, the end of the harvest season is marked by a celebration of Saint Leopold, whose feast day is November 15. Born in the 12th century, Saint Leopold is credited with founding three monasteries in Austria and was known for his piety and works of charity. Saint Leopold’s day is celebrated in Austria with music, banquets and a parade. The custom of Fasselrutschen is also practiced on Saint Leopold’s day, in which people gather to slide down a huge wine cast (12,000 gallons) for good luck in the year to come.
Sources
www.catholic.org
www.americancatholic.org
www.harvestfestivals.net
