Saint Martin celebrations Event week also for non-Christians in Beuel
Beuel · The UNESCO organisation declared the Rhine traditions „intangible world heritage“. In Beuel, the organisers of the Martin’s week offer events for non-Christians too.
The decision taken in October by the world cultural organisation UNESCO to officially recognise the tradition of Saint Martin in the region between the Rhine, Meuse and Eifel foothills as an intangible cultural heritage of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, gives the Beuel-Mitte Martin’s Committee a boost in its efforts to revitalise the Martinsfest in the district.
With the invitation to a Martin’s week from November 4 to 11, the volunteers want to promote this tradition. This Sunday starts with a family service, which Father Wilfried Evertz will hold from 11.15 am in the Sankt Josef church, Hermannstraße, in memory of Saint Martin of Tours, whose 1,700th birthday the Catholic Church celebrated two years ago.
"Building on the Christian reference of St. Martin's Day, the Martin's message - sharing unites - embodies a common culture of togetherness, tolerance and respect for people of all denominations and, above all, has an important social significance today. We want to open St. Martin's Day to all people who are not Christians," explained Stephan Kern, Chairman of the Martin Committee.
The highlight of Martin's Week on Thursday, 8 November will be the large Martin's procession in Beuel's inner city. "In close cooperation with the Johannes Nepomuk Church Community Foundation, we have been performing a St. Martin's play for two years to bring the story back to life," said Kern.
The foundation sponsors technology, lighting and „Weckmann“ bags with the Martin’s story written on the back. "Volunteers will pack about 3,500 alarm clocks in bags next week," says Friedhelm Kruth of the Nepomuk Foundation. The Martinsspiel will be performed from 6.15pm by class 6d of the Kardinal-Frings-Gymnasium in the stadium, Ringstraße. The Martin’s Committee and the Nepomuk Foundation want to intensify their cooperation. Thus, projects are planned which express the idea of the Martin customs "sharing unites confessions" over the calendar year.
(Original text: Holger Willcke, Translation: Mareike Graepel)
