Saint Martin of Tours is a beloved figure in many countries, celebrated on November 11th with processions, parades, and feasts. His story is one of compassion, courage, and charity, and it’s an ideal subject for children to learn and explore. Coloring pages are an effective way to introduce kids to the traditions, symbols, and meanings behind Saint Martin’s Day, while also developing their artistic skills, cognitive abilities, language, and emotional intelligence. In this blog post, we’ll provide some beautiful and engaging Saint Martin coloring pages for kids of all ages and interests, along with some background information and activity ideas to enhance the experience. Whether you’re a teacher, a parent, or a caregiver, you’ll find these coloring pages to be a fun and educational activity for your little ones.
Saint Martin in a Roman uniform
Saint Martin was born in 316 in Hungary, and his father was a Roman officer. This coloring page shows him as a young man wearing the uniform of a Roman soldier, with his long hair and gentle smile. Ask your kids to color his uniform with red, black, and gold, the colors of the Roman Empire, while explaining to them how Martin joined the army to defend his country but later became a Christian monk. You can also play some Roman music or sounds in the background, like the clashing of swords or the marching of legions, to create an immersive atmosphere.
Saint Martin sharing his cloak
One of the most famous stories about Saint Martin is the one where he meets a beggar shivering in the cold and cuts his cloak in half to give him some warmth. This coloring page is a scene from that story, showing Martin on horseback, holding his sword and his cloak, while the grateful beggar bows down to him. Encourage your kids to color the cloak with different shades of brown, green, or blue, and to add some snowflakes, stars, or flowers to the background, depending on their creativity and preferences. You can also ask them to role-play the story by dressing up as Saint Martin or the beggar and acting out the scene.
Lanterns and gingerbread
Another aspect of Saint Martin’s Day is the lantern parade, where children walk with colorful paper lanterns and sing songs. This coloring page is a design of a lantern with a heart and a star, which you can print out and fold into a 3D model. Let your kids color the lantern with bright and cheerful colors, and then help them attach a handle and a candle or LED light inside. You can also use this as an opportunity to teach them some songs or rhymes in different languages, like German, French, or Dutch, that are associated with Saint Martin’s Day. Another sweet treat that kids can enjoy on this day is the gingerbread horse, which is a traditional pastry shaped like a horse, the symbol of Saint Martin. You can find some recipes online and bake some gingerbread with your kids, while talking about the meaning and history of this pastry.
Martin’s goose and wine
Saint Martin’s Day is also a time for feasting and drinking, especially in Central Europe, where it’s called the Wine or Goose Day. This coloring page depicts a scene from that tradition, showing Martin with a goose in one hand and a wine glass in the other, surrounded by grapes and vines. Invite your kids to color the grapes with purple and green, and the goose with white and orange, while explaining to them how goose and wine became associated with Saint Martin’s Day. You can also prepare a special meal or snack with your kids, using goose meat or wine as ingredients, or playing some cooking games that involve measuring, mixing, and decorating. This can be both a fun and an educational activity for your little chefs.
Saint Martin’s symbols
Finally, to reinforce the learning and creativity of your kids, you can print out this coloring page that features some of the symbols and emblems that are associated with Saint Martin, such as the bishop’s miter, the shell, the crescent moon, the book, and the cross. Ask your kids to color each symbol with the appropriate colors and patterns they know, while telling them the stories and meanings behind them. You can also challenge them to come up with their own symbols or designs that represent Saint Martin’s virtues, like kindness, generosity, and faith.
Conclusion
Saint Martin coloring pages for kids are a fun and educational activity that can help children to learn about a saint, his stories, his symbols, and his traditions, while also developing their artistic skills, cognitive abilities, language, and emotional intelligence.
