Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Sweet bread, fire and horses

St. Martin is a nice little tradition where the kids walk around with open fires next to nervous horses and scream songs. Something about the whole 'my kid might go up in flames' or 'boy I hope that horse doesn't trample my baby' makes me think this celebration would never fly in America. I am sure that the hot chocolate guzzling and sweet bread at the end would be ok, though. It certainly was for Peter and David.

In a nutshell, the festival honors St. Martin, some Roman soldier who ripped his coat in half for a beggar and then hid in a stable of geese to avoid becoming a bishop because he did not feel worthy. The geese couldn't shut up, though, and he was quickly discovered and bishoped. Payback must have been a bitch even back then, for another tradition on this day is to cook a goose. I guess we can be glad that bashful old St. Martin did not choose a children's playground for his failed hiding spot.

In true Johnson form, we showed up ten minutes late for the fifteen minute ordeal and spent at least five minutes catching up with everyone. That was ok, because the kids were running with open flames, not scissors.

The entire kindergarten was there and let me just say that organized chaos does not begin to describe the noise levels. We had met up by the castle, though, so at least the view was pretty. In the end, I was just pleasantly surprised that Mr. Ed did not stomp on Peter and that David did not light himself, or any of the other kids, on fire. Let's all sacrifice a goose to honor that freaky half-coated Roman - Happy St. Martin's Day!
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Ladder Talk:
1) What was the best part of your day?
Peter: When I go to lantern by the castle with you and David and Mama and me.
David: I have a blue lantern.

2) What was the worst part of your day?
Peter: When my sore is there.
David: You said I was bad, ok?

3) What would you like to do tomorrow?
Peter: To go to Dalia's.
David: When you and me and Peter go in swimming pool.

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