Today is Remembrance Day/Veterans Day/Armistice Day, called varying things in different countries. In some places it is an official holiday. But 11th of November has an older meaning that pre-dates the end of the First World War.

The 11th of November is Martinmas, the Feast Day of St Martin of Tours.

I am informed that some of the Eastern Orthodox churches celebrate this feast day on the 12th rather than the 11th. But in the Roman Catholic, Anglican, and Lutheran traditions he is celebrated on the 11th, as the anniversary of his burial in 397 AD

St Martin is close to my heart for a few reasons. Principal of which is that my church @smitf_london , where I am a member, employee (til 1 Jan), and council member for (post 1 Jan).

St Martin has no real connection to London, but many churches around the world have been named for him. Heck, our church isn't even the only St Martin in London.

St Martin is, variously, according to different "authorities" both strict and loose, a patron of many things: The struggle against poverty, soldiers, tailors, geese, a number of cities, the Swiss Guards. The latter once deported me from the Vatican. Long story, another time....

St Martin was born in what is now Hungary, but with all due respect to my Hungarian friends, he shouldn't be considered Hungarian in the modern sense as he was born in the early 300s. The Magyars, the modern Hungarians, had not migrated there yet.

There is some variance as to Martin's year of birth. As with many, indeed most of the early Saints of the church, there is some history, but a LOT of folklore of sometimes dubious provenance.

By legend, St Martin was a childhood convert to Christianity against the wishes of his parents. His father was a tribune, then next rank up from centurion, in the Roman army.

Coming from a military family, Martin ended up as a soldier himself. He served in the cavalry, allegedly in the Equites cataphractarii ambianenses, (pictured from Trajan's column), a fairly elite unit.

The classic St Martin story is that, one cold night, he was on horseback and came across a beggar, clad only in rags. Taking pity on the beggar, Martin cut his cloak in half and gave half to the beggar.

Here's the El Greco version of the story.

The story goes that later that night, in a dream, Jesus came to Martin and told Martin that he, Christ, was the beggar that Martin had clothed that day.

Knowing how armies are, some supply sergeant gave Martin a lot of hellfire over cutting his cloak in half.

I should add that legend has it that the cloak episode happened in Amiens. Martin's cloak was preserved as a relic.

Martin later left military service, became a disciple under St Hilary of Poitiers (pictured) and became a priest.

He traveled around Gaul, spreading Christianity in the late Roman Empire. Christianity had, by then, been legalised but was by no means prevalent yet.

He was well regards, and he was appointed to be the Bishop of Tours. However, he didn't really want the job. He'd been lured to Tours on a ruse of curing some sick. He caught wind of this and fled.

The story goes that he hid in a barn while the good burghers of Tours were searching for him to make him their Bishop. A flock of geese in the barn were squawking and gave away his hiding spot.

In many parts of Europe, a roast goose is now part of celebrating Martinmas.

The other thing I learned about St Martin is that accounts of the time were critical of his personal hygiene and appearance. It seems he was a bit scruffy and smelly.

The chronicler of Martin's life, Sulpicius, says this:

[critics of Martin say] "...Martin’s person was contemptible, that he was unworthy of the episcopate, that he was a man despicable in countenance, that his clothing was mean, and his hair disgusting."

There are many other stories about St Martin floating around. I have only scratched the surface.

Happy St Martin's Day, y'all.