„Saint Martin”
  
St. Martin is the patron saint of the diocese and Bundesland of Burgenland. His feast day is November 11th. Over many centuries, right from the Middle Ages, Saint Martin has been one of the most popular saints in Europe whatsoever. Martinus was born in 316 or 317 as the son of a soldier in the Ancient Roman province of Pannonia, now Hungary. The year of birth is uncertain, but Western Hungarian authorities have already announced some anniversary memorial events for the year 2017. Martin - still a child - moved with his father to Pavia in Italy, where he had to follow his father’s profession due to the Roman law. So Martin became a soldier. As an adult already he was baptized in 351 by Saint Hilary, later bishop of the town of Poitiers. So Martin went to Gaul (now France), where he founded a monastery. He felt attracted to the Christian faith and soon realized that he could not agree with both anymore, his military career and living as a Christian. So Martin decided to quit military service and was ordained priest. He finally died as the bishop of Tours in Gaul.
The most popular story about Saint Martin is about him and a beggar. One day in winter Martin met at the gate of the town of Amiens a poor, naked man. In a merciful act he shared his military cloak with his sword and gave one half to the poor. The following night, he was dreaming of Christ, wearing the half cloak that Martin had given to the beggar. This is supposed to be one of the most important examples of Christian charity. There is also told another story, when Martin in the year of 371 should be appointed to become bishop in the city of Tours by the inhabitants. Martin, who felt himself unworthy, had hidden in a goose pen. But when the excited chattering geese betrayed his presence, he nolens volens had to assume the office of bishop. Most people in Burgenland think that the custom of eating geese on Martini day derives from the “Martin Goose”. But this interpretation of the custom of eating a “Martinigansl” is nonsense; if geese were to be punished and eaten still in present days because of betraying a hiding Saint, this would mean that Christians would consider the appointment of Martin as harmful and bad! In fact, it was the dies Martini, the memorial day of Saint Martin, when in the Middle Ages the annual work on the farms was done and all the workers were paid; on this joyous occasion geese were slaughtered. “Martiniganslessen” therefore refers to former rural life and not to theological reasons.
Martin is revered in Pannonia (both in Western Hungary and Burgenland) as well as in the South of France to this day. Numerous churches in Burgenland are dedicated to Saint Martin - and so some of the Burgenland villages and towns are named after him. The Hungarian name of Kismarton (Eisenstadt) means “Little Martin”; “Nagymarton” (Mattersburg) means “Great Martin”. There are also the villages of Markt St. Martin (near Oberpullendorf), St. Martin in der Wart (part of the city of Oberwart) and St. Martin an der Raab (district of Jennersdorf). And the spa of Frauenkirchen is called “St. Martins Therme und Lodge”.

Walter Dujmovits jun.
 
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Burgenlaendische Gemeinschaft  10-12 2013 Nr.428 Newsletter archive