Monday 18 November 2013

I'm walking with my bright lantern...

Don't you just love Sunday afternoons? Long, lazy afternoons enjoying good food and family. Growing up, a Sunday afternoon walk would often make an appearance, but with the girls naps, its a bit trickier these days. Yesterday, however, we donned our coats at about 4pm and headed out into the cold, evening light.


One of my favourite traditions that I picked up when I lived in Austria, was that of Laternenlauf - walking with lanterns. It's a German tradition, in mid-November, that the little children walk the streets in the evening with lanterns lit to symbolise Jesus as the light of the world. Its timing is linked to the celebration of a Christian man called Martin who helped a beggar in a snowstorm (the festival is called Sankt Martin)


So on Sunday evening we headed out (the camera has actually managed to make it look lighter than it was!) and a little lady was extremely excited to be carrying a lantern with a real tealight in it (it was enclosed and very secure!)


She walked very carefully, and sang one of her favourite lantern songs the whole way round...

Ich geh' mit meiner Laterne,
Und meine Laterne mit mir
Dort oben leuchten die Sterne
Und unten leuchten wir
Mein Licht is aus, ich geh nach Haus,
Ra-bimmel, Ra-bammel, Ra-bum...

I'm walking with my bright lantern
And my lantern's walking with me
Above the bright stars are shining
And down here its us you can see
My light is low, so home I'll go
Dum-diddle, dum-diddle, dum-dee...


We took a nice walk round the park, and she held tight to that little lantern the whole way round.


And as we walked, the little lantern shined brighter as the darkness got deeper. I do love these autumn heading into winter evenings. 




16 comments:

  1. What a lovely tradition! Some of the simple ideas are the best and most enjoyable!

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  2. I love Laternenfest, too! But I´ll have to wait another two years until I can enjoy the yearly Spielgruppen Laternenfest ;-) Ava looks as if she loves it, too!
    Btw...what happened to your pictures? They look a bit strange....
    xxx

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  3. How cute! She looks really chuffed. I think it's great that you're following traditions of both nationalities. Well done :)

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  4. What a lovely tradition and great post - gorgeous photos. So glad you all had a fab time #magicmoments

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  5. Oh how sweet, and what a lovely idea. We love going on afternoon/early evening walks .x

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  6. I love that idea of walking with a lantern. xxx

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  7. What a lovely post and a great tradition. We could do with a lantern now at night to walk the dog as there are no street lights where we live.

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  8. Ah, that is so lovely. Sounds like a lovely walk and what a great tradition!
    Thanks for linking #LetKidsBeKids

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  9. That is such a lovely idea. And it makes your evening stroll really special x #LetKidsBeKids

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  10. Oh, such a lovely tradition, and I love the photos - how happy she looks and proud to be carrying her very own lantern :) #LetKidsBeKids

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  11. I've recently read another post about lantern walking. What a lovely tradition and she looks like she had so much fun. #LetKidsBeKids

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  12. I love this idea - so simple yet so magical for a small child. It's great that you can blend the cultures in such a special way too. She looks delighted!

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  13. I've always loved the idea of a lantern walk. I've read so many posts about communities coming together for their lantern walks and wished we had one near us. Maybe I should take a leaf out of your book and do our own. It would be fun. Your daughter's smile is beautiful.

    Popped over from #LetKidsBeKids

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  14. Such a lovely tradition and ideal for when it starts getting dark while out on a walk. The photos are lovely, thanks for linking up and sharing with Country Kids.

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  15. I love this lantern tradition - I think my boys would love to do this.

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  16. awww honey this is beautiful xxx

    thank you for sharing and linking up with #MagicMoments xx

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