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NOVEMBER
November 1st, All Saint’s Day, is the feast of the Saints and Beatified in Heaven. However, the day is heavily under the influence of the following day, All Soul’s Day and is therefore also widely used for remembering the deceased and private visits to the tomb of the relatives as well as public events such as memorial services for the victims of the two World Wars.
Following those two Holidays, November third is reserved for St. Hubertus, the patron of the hunters. On this occasion hunters celebrate the end of yet another hunting season with a divine service and blowing of hunting-horns.
St. Martin’s Day, on 11th of November marks not only the end of the wine growing year but it is also the day of “baptism” of the new wine. The Saint is additionally the patron of the province of Burgenland, meaning that this day is subject of a lot of official feasts, especially in Eisenstadt, the capital of Burgenland. On this day Austrians like to join vintners in their caves where the new wine is tasted and eat in restaurants where they enjoy the once-a-year “Martinigansl” (Martin’s goose). For children, especially in kindergarten, lantern processions are held. The Saint Martin’s Legend attests that Martin on horseback shares his cloak with a beggar. In this play role, children accompany “Martin” with (sometimes self-made) lanterns.
Victim of the change in economic and mental structure is Saint Leonard, protector of cattle and thus secure the existence of the farmers. Once the mightiest and most important Saint in Heaven, St. Leonard’s is today primarily the patron of the beasts, now primarily horses and its riders. St. Leonard’s Day is 16th of November.
St. Andrew’s day, the 30th of November ends the ecclesiastical year.
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