Sankt Martin Songs for German Class: 3 Lantern Songs for November 11

If you’re the only German teacher in your building, you already know the feeling. Spanish has Día de los Muertos, French has its big November contests, and German class is quietly working through Unit 4.

November 11 is your chance. Sankt Martin, or Martinstag, is one of the most loved days in German-speaking countries, especially for kids. There are lanterns, a parade, a story about kindness and, best of all for us, songs that are perfect for beginners.

Here are three Sankt Martin songs for German class, a 30-minute lesson plan, and a simple lantern activity to finish.

Sankt Martin in two minutes

Martin was a Roman soldier who lived in the 300s. The story goes that on a freezing night he rode past a beggar shivering in the snow. Martin cut his red cloak in half with his sword and gave one half to the man. He later became a bishop and a saint.

Today, on the evening of November 11, children in Germany, Austria and Switzerland walk through the streets with paper lanterns, often behind someone dressed as Martin on a horse. They sing lantern songs, and many towns light a bonfire. Families often eat Martinsgans (roast goose), and bakeries sell sweet bread figures called Weckmann or Stutenkerl, depending on the region.

Key words to pre-teach: die Laterne, das Licht, der Mantel, teilen, der Bettler, das Pferd, der Schnee, der Wind, die Sterne.

1. Ich geh mit meiner Laterne (A1)

The most famous lantern song, and very easy to sing. The first lines go:

Ich geh mit meiner Laterne und meine Laterne mit mir.
Dort oben leuchten die Sterne, und unten, da leuchten wir.

Teach with it: gehen in the present tense, mit plus dative (meiner Laterne, mir), and oben and unten. Have students point up and down as they sing. Play it on Roxxem.

2. Laterne, Laterne (A1)

Short, repetitive and great for your youngest learners or a warm-up:

Laterne, Laterne, Sonne, Mond und Sterne.

Teach with it: nature words (Sonne, Mond, Sterne) and the imperative “brenne auf.” Ask students to add their own line with another word from the sky. Play it on Roxxem.

3. Sankt Martin ritt durch Schnee und Wind (A2)

This one tells the whole story of Martin and the beggar, so it’s perfect for a class that’s ready for past tense:

Sankt Martin ritt durch Schnee und Wind, sein Ross, das trug ihn fort geschwind.

Teach with it: the Präteritum (ritt, trug), weather words, and retelling a story in order. After listening, students put picture cards of the story in the right sequence. Play it on Roxxem.

A 30-minute Sankt Martin lesson

1. Hook (5 min): Show a photo of a lantern parade. Ask “Was siehst du?” and collect words.
2. Story (5 min): Tell the Martin story with simple drawings. Act out “teilen” by tearing a paper cloak in half.
3. Song one (8 min): Play Ich geh mit meiner Laterne on Roxxem. Students play the listening game, then sing the chorus.
4. Song two or three (8 min): Pick Laterne, Laterne for A1 or Sankt Martin ritt for A2.
5. Exit ticket (4 min): “Was kannst du teilen?” Students write one thing they could share, like “Ich teile mein Essen.”

Lantern add-on

If you have one more class period, have students make simple paper lanterns and write one vocabulary word on each panel. Turn off the lights, switch on battery tea lights, and do a mini Laternenumzug around the room while you play the songs. Students will talk about it for weeks.

Frequently asked questions

When is Sankt Martin? November 11 each year. Lantern parades usually happen in the evening, sometimes on the nearest weekend.

What level are these songs? Ich geh mit meiner Laterne and Laterne, Laterne work for A1. Sankt Martin ritt durch Schnee und Wind fits A2 because it uses past tense.

Is Sankt Martin a religious holiday? It started as a saint’s day, but today it’s widely celebrated as a family and community tradition focused on sharing and light.

Teaching German? Browse the German song library on Roxxem and have your Sankt Martin lesson ready in minutes.