Downtown Vancouver – The Vancouver Christmas Market has now been in operation for over ten years and they are always trying to add something new to their Festival. This year it will be a Lantern Festival to be held on Wednesday, November 29th at 5:00 pm.
Their vision is to have children parade around the Vancouver Convention Center and then head into the Market for some Apple Cider + performances! Children are welcome to bring their own lanterns or purchase one at the Market!
The Lantern Festival extends a warm invitation to children from diverse cultural backgrounds. We are enthusiastic about sharing the historical significance of this traditional event, which typically takes place on November 11th each year. On this day, thousands of individuals, young and old, come together to commemorate St. Martin’s Day, particularly in the predominantly Catholic regions of the Rhineland and Southern Germany.
German children, often accompanied by their parents, partake in the celebration by carrying lanterns illuminated with candles and singing ‘lantern songs’ during the processional tribute to St. Martin or sing about the lanterns they are carrying.
If you are interested in participating in this event, the details can be seen below.
HISTORY
St. Martin is celebrated in Germany for his legendary act of kindness—sharing his cloak with a beggar on a cold winter night. This selfless gesture has become a symbol of compassion and generosity.
In Germany, children honor St. Martin’s legacy through lantern events, a tradition dating back to the 19th century. It’s now a cherished custom where kids craft vibrant lanterns and come together for parades, brightening the streets with light.
Details
This year, the Vancouver Christmas Market is bringing this tradition to life! Join us in our Lantern Festival parade, led by our mascots Holly & Jolly! Register Below.
Location: Meet at the box office outside of the Market.
Admission: Upon registering, participating children (0-17) will receive free admission and apple cider.
Adults can use the code VCMLANTERNPARADE to purchase a special discounted ticket. (Code is only available for 5 p.m. on November 29th.)
All registration details and event specifics can be found on our website [https://www.vancouverchristmasmarket.com/lanternparade/].
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