• St. Martin's Eve (Estonia) (Mardi PSev)

    From Mike Dippel@954:895/1 to All on Tue Nov 10 23:31:34 2026
    November 10

    Traditionally, children in Estonia go from door to door at dusk on St. Martin's Eve in much the same way that American children trick-or-treat
    on Halloween.

    Their refrain is, "Please let us in because Mardi's fingers and toes are cold," and if they are not welcomed into the house and given treats, they
    retaliate by singing rude and uncomplimentary songs.

    Usually they're ushered into the kitchen, where such delicacies as
    apples, nuts, cookies, and raisin bread are handed out.

    Turnips, one of the few winter vegetables in Estonia, are another prized
    gift, as is viljandi kama, a kind of meal comprised of 15 different grains
    and dried vegetables mixed with sour milk, sugar, and cream that is
    regarded as a special treat. Well-to-do families give children bags of viljandi kama on Martin's Day to show how prosperous they are.

    Full story:
    https://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/St.+Martin%27s+Eve

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