Laterne, Laterne
On St. Martin's Day in Germany, on November 11th, children parade at night carrying lanterns. Laterne, Laterne is a song they sing while walking in St. Martin's Day parades. Sometimes the St. Martin's Day parade ends with a bonfire. Kids often go door to door caroling and receiving treats or money. People also eat goose and Weckmann (a sweet bread in the shape of a gingerbread man).
Laterne, Laterne
Lantern, Lantern
St. Martin's Day Song
St. Martin's Day Song
(German)
(English)
Laterne, Laterne
Sonne, Mond und Sterne
Brenne auf, mein Licht,
Brenne auf, mein Licht
Aber nur meine liebe Laterne nicht.
Laterne, Laterne,
Sonne, Mond und Sterne,
Sperrt ihn ein, den Wind,
Sperrt ihn ein, den Wind,
Er soll warten, bis wir zu Hause sind.
Laterne, Laterne,
Sonne, Mond und Sterne,
Bleibe hell, mein Licht,
Bleibe hell, mein Licht,
Sonst strahlt meine liebe Laterne nicht.
Lantern, Lantern,
Sun, moon and stars,
Burn, my light,
Burn, my light,
But not my dear lantern.
Lantern, Lantern,
Sun, moon and stars,
Lock up the wind,
Lock up the wind,
He can wait until we get home.
Lantern, Lantern,
Sun, moon and stars,
Keep bright my light,
Keep bright my light,
Or my dear lantern won't shine.
Notes
If you'd like to share your St. Martin's Day traditions or songs, come visit Mama Lisa's blog and comment or email me.
Comments
Here's a pretty, rhyming English translation of Laterne, Laterne penned by Loralee Jo Kurzius:
Laterne, Laterne,
My Lantern, my lantern,
Son-ne, Mond und Sterne,
Sun, moon and stars that turn,
brenne auf, mein Licht,
Sh-ine on, my light,
brenne auf, mein Licht,
Sh-ine on, my light,
aber nur meine liebe Laterne nicht.
Please don't let my pret-ty lan-tern burn tonight.
Thanks to Loralee Jo for sharing this translation.
You can hear another version of Laterne, Laterne sung here.
Thanks!
Thanks and Acknowledgements
Many thanks to Ulrike Bernhard for contributing this song, to Maguy Cabrol for translating it into French and to Monique Palomares for creating the midi music. Many thanks also to Ms B. for contributing and translating this song. Many thanks also to Christina Weising for contributing the rest of the song and helping with the French translation. Many thanks to Lisa Stephan from the German Australian Playschool in Canberra, Australia, for the picture.
Vielen Dank!
