Saint Martin's Day in Scandinavia

The approaching feast of St. Martin, celebrated on November 11, is a day of feasting, charity events, and community gatherings in many parts of Europe. Although this holiday is not as widespread in Scandinavia as in Germany or the Netherlands, the tradition still holds a place in the culture of this northern region. Let’s take a look at the history of this holiday and how it is celebrated in different Scandinavian countries.

History of the Holiday

The feast of St. Martin, also known as Martinmas, originates from the veneration of St. Martin of Tours, one of the most influential saints of Western Christianity. Martin was born around 316 AD in present-day Hungary. From a young age, he aspired to become a monk, but his father, a high-ranking pagan Roman officer, disapproved. Consequently, Martin became a soldier and took his duties seriously. However, he differed from other soldiers in his lack of aggression and his deep compassion for the weak, soon becoming known for his acts of charity.

The most famous story about St. Martin recounts how, during a harsh winter, he encountered a shivering beggar by the roadside. Moved by the man’s plight, Martin cut his military cloak in half with his sword and gave part of it to the beggar for warmth. That night, Martin had a vision of Christ wearing the same piece of the cloak, which led him to convert to Christianity. Eventually, he left the army and became a monk.

After a life devoted to aiding the poor and spreading Christianity, Martin was reluctantly appointed Bishop of Tours. His feast day, November 11, coincides with the date of his burial in 397 AD. Over the centuries, the feast of St. Martin became a significant Christian holiday, particularly in medieval Europe, marking the end of the agricultural year and the beginning of winter.

Historically, Martinmas was a time of feasting and celebration. It was the last opportunity to enjoy hearty meals before the Advent fast and also a period when farmers slaughtered livestock in preparation for winter. The holiday became associated with the consumption of goose, linked to several legends. One story tells how St. Martin, in his humility, hid in a goose pen to avoid being named bishop, but the noisy geese revealed his hiding place. As a result, eating goose on this day became a widespread tradition in many European countries.

Besides feasting, St. Martin’s Day was also a time for settling rents, paying debts, and finalizing contracts, as it marked the end of the economic year. In rural areas and small towns, farmhands received their wages for the past year. Before seeking new employment, they celebrated—sometimes spending their entire year’s wages on revelry without concern for their next job.

This day was also linked to the wine harvest, as it was the time to taste the “new wine.” Lantern processions and bonfires were common in many regions, symbolizing light and warmth as the days grew shorter and colder.

Lanterns and Fire in St. Martin’s Celebrations

Lanterns and fire play a significant role in St. Martin’s Day celebrations, symbolizing light and hope during the approaching winter months. Many European countries hold lantern processions, attended mainly by children but also by adults. These processions often wind through towns and villages, sometimes accompanied by a costumed figure of St. Martin on horseback, reenacting his act of generosity. The illuminated lanterns, often handmade, represent the light shining through the darkness of the season. In addition to lanterns, bonfires or smaller fires are part of the celebrations, gathering people around their warm glow.

Celebrations in Sweden

In Sweden, St. Martin’s Day, known as Mårtensafton, is celebrated on the evening of November 10, primarily in the southern region of Skåne, which was historically part of Denmark until the mid-17th century. The central focus of Swedish celebrations is the St. Martin’s feast. The meal traditionally begins with svartsoppa, a black soup made from goose blood, broth, and spices such as cloves and ginger. This rich soup, often served with pieces of goose liver and heart along with small apple slices, is a controversial dish with divided opinions.

In earlier times, the meal also included lutefisk made from dried fish as an appetizer, followed by risgrynsgröt, a rice pudding dessert. Today, Swedes mostly enjoy the St. Martin’s goose feast in restaurants rather than celebrating the holiday itself, focusing more on the tradition of eating goose than on the saint’s feast day.

Celebrations in Denmark

In Denmark, this holiday is known as Mortensaften. Like in Sweden, it is celebrated with a festive meal featuring roasted goose or duck. This tradition is linked to a Danish legend similar to the German one: St. Martin (Morten in Danish) was so humble that he hid among geese to avoid being appointed bishop. However, the noisy geese betrayed his hiding spot, leading to the tradition of eating goose (or duck) on this day.

Today, Danes prefer roasted duck over goose because it is smaller and more affordable. Mortensaften is primarily a family gathering rather than a large public celebration. Although not as widely observed as Christmas or Easter, it serves as an occasion for Danish families to come together and enjoy a good meal. Charity also plays a role on this day, with some people using the opportunity to volunteer or support charitable organizations.

Celebrations in Norway

In Norway, November 11 is known as Mortensdag or Mortensmesse. A folk belief states that on St. Martin’s Day, “the bear goes into hibernation,” and a clear day on this date predicts a harsh winter (“Hvis dagen er klar, så blir vinteren hard”).

Although St. Martin’s Day was depicted on the Norwegian rune calendar (Kalenderstab or Primstav) with a goose and a drinking horn (Trinkhorn) symbolizing wine, the tradition of eating Martinmas goose did not persist. Instead, pork became the customary meal.

This day is more closely associated with the end of the harvest season and winter preparations than with the specific celebration of St. Martin. In rural areas, families still gather for a festive meal, often featuring traditional Norwegian autumn dishes such as lamb, root vegetables, and hearty stews.

The holiday may also be marked in schools and churches, where activities emphasize kindness and sharing, reflecting St. Martin’s values. However, it is not a widely observed public holiday, and most Norwegians associate November more with Veterans Day than with St. Martin’s feast.

Although the significance of St. Martin’s Day has declined in many parts of Europe, it remains an important cultural tradition in some countries. In Scandinavia, where the Protestant Reformation weakened the influence of many Catholic holidays, the celebrations of St. Martin’s Day have taken on a more subdued form. However, the themes of community, generosity, and preparation for winter continue to endure.