Saint Martin of Tours

Martin (c. 316–397) was born in today's Hungary and served in the Roman army. At the gate of Amiens he sliced his military cloak in two to share it with a beggar, and that night he dreamed of Christ wearing the half cloak. He was baptized, left the army, founded the first monastery in Gaul and became Bishop of Tours.

November 11 is also Veterans Day in the United States and Remembrance Day in the UK and Canada: the 1918 Armistice was signed on Martinmas, the feast of a soldier saint. In Germany and many Catholic homes children carry lanterns in procession and families eat roast goose. The word "chapel" comes from the shrine that kept his cloak (cappa).