Life's a Beach | Expat Life in Playa del Carmen

Every November, closely following Dia de los Muertos, the students of El Papalote School participate in a traditional celebration of San Martin. This festival, also known as Martinmas, recognizes Martin, originally a soldier in Roman army in the 4th century. The legends tells that one freezing winter night he came upon a poor beggar, half-naked and suffering in the cold. Martin took off his own heavy cloak and cut it in half with his sword, giving half to the shivering beggar. That night, Jesus appeared in Martin's dream, wrapped in the same piece of cloak that Martin had given the beggar, and said to the angels: “Here is Martin, the Roman soldier who is not baptised; he has clothed me.” From that moment on, Martin dedicated his life to serving God and helping those in need. He ultimately became the patron saint of beggars, drunks and outcasts, dedicating his life to caring for those on the fringe of society. 

During the week leading up to the festival, the students hear the story of San Martin, sing songs and make lanterns to carry as they make their procession at dusk. Led by music teacher Luciana, playing the flute, the children and parents follow the paths through the jungle in the Playacar neighborhood, Club Real, carrying the lanterns they created and singing a simple song. This magical procession of glowing lanterns and song symbolizes the love and generosity that illuminates the world. This is a time to celebrate the light that shines in us all.

Yo voy con mi farol
Y mi farol conmigo
Arriba brillan las estrellas
Abajo brillamos nosotros

Farol, farol
Estrella, luna y sol
Se apaga la luz
Se apaga la luz
Menos la de mi farol
Farol. farol
Estrella, luna y sol

Con faroles
Con faroles caminando
Vamos los ninos cantando
Rojos, verdes y amarillos
Todos con hermoso brillo

Y si hace frio nos vamos a casa
Con nuestro pequeno farol

I'm getting pretty handy with a camera but I couldn't even begin to do justice to the beauty of this evening, the flash obliterating the warm glow cast by hundreds of lanterns trailing in a line through the woods. I did manage to get a few nice shots from the gathering afterward.

“There isn’t enough darkness in all the world to snuff out the light of one little candle.”  Siddhartha Gautama (563-483 BC)