Re-enactment marks St Martin’s Day
Staff and students from aberdeen university help play out scene
Published:
STAFF and students from Aberdeen University re-enacted a legendary scene last night to celebrate St Martin’s Day.
According to legend, St Martin, a Roman solider who lived in the 4th century and who became a monk, once used his sword to cut his cloak in half to share it with a beggar during a snowstorm, saving the man’s life.
As part of the European-wide celebrations of his life, music lecturer Frauke Jurgenson and student Katarina Geier played out the scene, following a parade around the King’s College quadrangle.
About 30 children from the university’s Rocking Horse Nursery carried handmade lanterns as they took part in the parade, which traditionally marks the end of the agricultural year and the beginning of harvest.
The Rev Easter Smart, the university’s chaplain, led a service of music in the King’s College chapel.
She said: “Re-enacting St Martin’s generous act is an appropriate way to lift our spirits at a time of remembrance because his sword, which was once used in war, was used to serve the neediest.
“Aside from the symbolism, the parade is also wonderful fun for the children who attend nursery on campus, and who all made their own lanterns for the process. There was a magical quality to the evening.”
