St. Martin was a 4th century Roman soldier who was holy and compassionate but didn't want to be bishop, so he hid in the goose stall when the deputation arrived to appoint him. The geese gave him away by gaggling loudly. So on St Martin's Day (11 November), all the geese get killed and eaten and the children sing songs about geese and carry goose-shaped lanterns. All in all, a very jolly old festival (if you're not a goose).
