St Martin's Day (Martinstag) in Germany: lanterns, Weckmann and goose on Wed 11 Nov 2026
Short answer, checked 24 October 2026: Martinstag is Wednesday 11 November 2026. The core of it is the Laternenumzug, a lantern procession that children walk at dusk, often after a short service or a Martinsspiel and often ending at a fire. Bakeries sell a yeast-dough man called Weckmann or Stutenkerl, and restaurants serve Martinsgans, roast goose. There is no single national programme, so check your town's Laternenumzug announcement for the time and meeting point.
DateWed 11 Nov 2026Last checked2026-10-24
What happens on 11 November
Laternenumzug (lantern procession)
Per the Wochenblatt-Reporter, children walk through the streets at dusk ("bei Einbruch der Dunkelheit") with colourful lanterns, singing. Often a short service or Martinsspiel comes first, in some places a rider as Martin leads, and the walk often ends at a Martinsfeuer (fire). The sources give no fixed clock time. Two Stuttgart examples show how much it varies: a St. Martinsfeier at the Johanneskirche listed from 17:30 and a Martinsumzug in the Fanny-Leicht-Park listed from 17:00. Both are parish events, not events of the city of Stuttgart (stuttgart.de says so on the page). Do not read them as a rule for your town.
Weckmann or Stutenkerl
A sweet yeast-dough man, often with raisins and a clay pipe, which aponet.de says stands for the bishop's staff of St Martin. It is also sold as Stutenkerl, and t-online lists further regional names (Piefekopp, Buckmann, Grittibänz). It is given to children around Martinstag mainly in North Rhine-Westphalia; elsewhere it appears later, at Nikolaus or in Advent (t-online). Ask at a local bakery, as availability and timing vary.
Martinsgans (goose dinner)
Roast goose, in the Wochenblatt-Reporter's words with red cabbage and dumplings ("Rotkraut und Knödeln"), is the traditional meal. The story goes that geese betrayed Martin with their honking when he hid from being made bishop. We found no source for restaurant prices or booking dates, so ask your restaurant whether it offers goose on or around 11 Nov and whether it takes reservations.
Newcomers with kids: what to know
Lanterns are the key item. Children traditionally carry one, often homemade (Wochenblatt-Reporter); aponet.de says empty lantern kits are sold in many craft shops. A Kita or school may make them with the children. Ask them what they plan.
The Fanny-Leicht-Park listing asks participants to bring their own lanterns. The Johanneskirche listing says food and drink are offered afterwards and asks people to bring cups and small change.
Expect songs. Children sing as they walk, so a short look at the lyrics your child's Kita uses helps you join in. The German deck at firstphrases.app has phrases for a lantern walk.
Dress for dusk and weather outdoors. The processions walk in the dark, often with a fire or torches at the end, so keep children close to you.
Times are local and set by whoever organises it: the town, a parish, a Kita or a school. Check your town's Laternenumzug announcement. We do not list programme times for any town.
When is St Martin's Day in 2026? Wednesday 11 November 2026. It is the feast day of St Martin of Tours, celebrated in Germany with lantern processions, goose dinners and, in some regions, the Weckmann pastry.
What time is the Laternenumzug on 11 November? There is no single time. Sources say children walk at dusk. Two Stuttgart parish events on 11 Nov 2026 are listed from 17:00 and 17:30, but your town may differ, so check your town's Laternenumzug announcement.
What is a Weckmann or Stutenkerl? A sweet yeast-dough figure of a man, often with raisins and a clay pipe, that is given to children around Martinstag, mainly in North Rhine-Westphalia. In other regions it is eaten later, around Nikolaus or in Advent.
Do I need to book a Martinsgans dinner? We found no official booking rule. Ask the restaurant whether it serves Martinsgans around 11 Nov and whether it takes reservations. Roast goose with red cabbage and dumplings is the traditional dish.