St. Martin's Day

Martinstag, November 11, is the day of St. Martin of Tours, patron saint of beggars, soldiers, and conscientious objectors.

Martin was born in Hungary in 316 A.D. As a teenager, he joined the Roman army, becoming a soldier like his father, and traveled to what is now Italy and France.

The most famous legend of St. Martin is of his time as a soldier: One snowy winter evening, Martin and the other soldiers were returning on horseback to Amiens. A freezing beggar was sitting at the city gate. Martin didn't have any money or food to give him, so he used his sword to cut his heavy red soldier’s cloak in half, and gave half to the beggar. That night Martin dreamt that Jesus thanked him for giving Him his cloak. This dream convinced Martin to become a Christian and be baptized. 

Martin remained in the army for two more years, but then he decided that his faith prohibited him from fighting, and he was jailed as a coward. He was eventually released from prison and from military service, and went on to become the bishop of Tours in France. He died peacefully on November 8, 397 A.D., and was buried on November 11, among the first non-martyrs to be venerated as a saint.

Originally Martinstag was celebrated only in the Catholic areas of Germany, Austria, Flanders, Netherlands, and Portugal, but it has now spread to Protestant areas as well.

Wednesday is my day to re-group and re-define my week. First I make a plan for getting over the bump of the mid-week, then I re-envision my emotional tone and perspective.

The new moon is the start of the lunar cycle, a time of high energy and clear thinking. Historically, the new moon is when women took time to be alone; it's a time to retreat, set intentions, and initiate something new. (After a socially overwhelming weekend I need to retreat!)

Agenda today:

1. Re-group plan

2. Read "The Exquisite Risk"

3. Problem-solving

4. New narrative for generosity

5. Writing themes

6. Gift list brainstorm
7. Bake Weckmänner (Bun Men)

1. Re-group plan:

Today I will define my top priorities for the week, and make a plan for when to work on them:

1. Bee harvest: This morning, make a working bin; this afternoon, start working!
2. Hall door project: Tomorrow, cut more paper and add to door; design possible collage for center.
3. Trip to Olympia: Start packing tomorrow, including wrapping gifts and pot of roots.

2. Read "The Exquisite Risk":

I'm reading this small book by Mark Nepo (2005), with the subtitle, Daring to Live an Authentic Life. I like his idea that integrity is Me allowing my inner authentic Being to shape my Doing - that I can practice saying "The authentic Me requires me to Do things this way," (but be careful that I'm not just being stubborn!) When I have integrity I can express my inner world, what matters to me, to the outer world. "In a daily way, the exchange of what matters is the dance by which we stay alive and true."

Chapter 10 is The Struggle to Be Real. He talks about two world views. One is that everything is related to everything else; all parts are connected, and being real is a struggle to actualize this relatedness, strengthen our connections, and honor the part in relation to the whole. 

The other view is existentialism - that we are all isolated, and being real is only in the moment, strengthening our will and individuality against a sea of emptiness.  

"So, what does it mean to be real? ... it involves both ... an outer commitment to live as close to our experience as possible, and an inner commitment to keep our individual spirit aligned with the soul of the world ... how we go about lessening our isolation and increasing our connectedness ... is at the heart of our ongoing struggle to stay real. ... This alignment ... is the work of integrity."

3. Problem-solving:

With my new goal for "looking eagerly for problems to solve so that I can improve my life", I will begin a new Wednesday habit of defining a problem and beginning to design a possible solution.

Today I'm working on Problem #5: Moving more, to aid with weight loss. 

• Walk further with Arthur - feed ducks on Amazon
• Schedule walks with friends and family (Corinne? Tami?)
• Walk with Aldo to clean up plastic (for $).
• Dance longer when I'm not walking.

4. New narrative for generosity:

One of my weekly Creative Perspective tasks is to define a new narrative. Today I think about generosity and courage, which St. Martin had to a high degree. I'm not planning to go to jail or give away the coat off my back, but I hope I can release a bit of my selfishness, and some of my need for comfort and safety. 

I intend to budget a generous amount of my savings for donations and gifts.

5. Writing themes:

I have finally fallen into a steady, daily obsession for my writing project. Today I will set themes and topics for writing and research for the next week:

• W-Th: Awareness of wild animals (and compassion) 
• F-Sat-Sun: Awareness of People as animals
• T-W-Th: Create sanctuary for animals
• F-S-Sun: Share the Haudenosaunee Thanksgiving Address
• M-Th: Plastic integrity and Buy Nothing Day
• 29: Darkness

6. Gift list brainstorm:

In Germany, Martinstag is the start of the Advent season. As my first preparations for the advent season, today I will make a list of gifts I could make for family and friends. 

This year my theme for gift-giving is hand-made crafts and containers. 

7. Bake Weckmänner (Bun Men):

These yummy yeast breads in the shape of people often appear at Martinstag celebrations. They are handed out to help remind us of the generosity of St Martin.

Ingredients: 

• 1 packet yeast  
• 3 Tbsp. warm water 
• 1 c. milk 
• 1/2 c. butter
• 1 c. sugar 
• 6-2/3 cups flour 
• grated peel from 1 lemon
• 2 eggs
• 1/2-tsp. salt
• 1 egg beaten with 2 tablespoons water for glazing 
• raisins and dried cranberries, soaked in water

Yield- 10 bun men

1. In a small bowl, mix yeast with warm water and 1 Tbsp. of sugar. Let it sit and bubble up for 5 minutes.

2. Combine milk, butter, and sugar, in a saucepan and heat on low until butter melts, then set aside to cool. 

3. Place 6 c. flour into a mixing bowl, make a well in the middle of the flour, and pour yeast mixture into the well. Mix gently to combine, cover, and let rest for 20 minutes. 

4. Add the milk mixture (check that it has cooled down to at least 110ºF), grated lemon peel, and eggs to flour, mix together, and then knead (I used my kitchen aide). Add salt as it kneads, and up to 2/3 c. more flour, to make a stiff dough.

5. Oil the bowl, cover, and let rise for 45 minutes. 



6. Divide dough into 10 pieces. Roll or pat each one into an oblong 1-inch thick, then cut to form into people shapes: 

Form a head at the top, cut in on both sides for the arms, and at bottom for the legs.

7. Place the bun people on baking sheets covered with parchment paper, making sure to leave enough room between each shape. Let rise for another 45 minutes.

8. Soak a handful of raisins and cranberries in water for a few minutes. Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Brush the buns with egg and water mixture, and decorate with raisins and cranberries for the eyes and buttons.

9. Bake at for 10-15 minutes until golden brown.

Eating Bun Men in 2021...

And younger brother in 2024!