Songs for an Autumn Lantern Walk
Grade Levels: Pre-K - 5
Posted: November 11, 2020 | Updated: November 11, 2020
Created by: Schoolhouse by the Sea
In so many cultures around the world, this time of year brings a celebration of light. In Egypt, Muslims celebrate Mawlid Un Nabi with lanterns. In India, Hindus celebration of Diwali is a celebration of light. In Europe, Catholics celebrate Saint Martin’s Day, also called Martinmas, with lantern walks and song. Around the world, Jewish people will soon be lighting their Menorahs for Hannukah and Christians will be lighting advent wreaths in preparation for Christmas. These are just a few examples of the many celebrations at the season that celebrate with lanterns and light. Isn’t it beautiful how universal this is and how connected we are?
The songs we share with you here are intended to celebrate Martinmas, but most can be adapted to any holiday that your family celebrates with lights. Create your own lantern or use one that is premade, then light a candle inside and take it out with you in the darkness. Singing these songs as you go can bring joy to a time of challenge and light to the darkness!
Listen to Ms. Sylvia singing these songs at the bottom of the page!
Glimmer, Lantern, Glimmer
This playful little song sets a magical tone for your lantern walk and is perfect for your youngest walkers.
Glimmer, lantern, glimmer! Little stars a-shimmer
Over meadow, moor and dale flitter flutter elfin veil
Pee-wit pee-wit, tick-a-tick-a-tick, roo-coo-roo-coo.
Glimmer, lantern, glimmer! little stars a-shimmer
Over rock and stock and stone wander tripping little gnome
Pee-wit, pee-wit, tick-a-tick-a-tick, roo-coo-roo-coo
High and Blue the Sky
This song is written in the pentatonic mode, meaning that it uses a five-tone scale. Doesn’t it make a beautiful song? I always think it sets a beautiful mood for the start of a lantern walk.
High and blue the sky
Trees are very tall
Wild geese flying seem so small
See on silent wings in flocks they go
Never parting from a single row
We go through the land
Like a wild geese band
Brothers in the flight are we
Clear and dark the night
Stars are very bright
Lanterns shining seem so small
See in single file we walk along
Singing joyfully our lantern song
We go through the land
Like a wild gees band
Children of one light are we
I Go With My Bright Little Lantern
This is a traditional song from Germany was the first lantern song I ever learned and is still one of my favorites. Here is the version that I sang in English with my students.
I go with my bright little lantern
My lantern is going with me
Above me the stars are shining
On Earth shines my lantern for me
My light glows bright all through the night
La-bimmel-la-bammel-la-boom-boom-boom
My light glows bright all through the night
La-bimmel-la-bammel-la-boom-boom-boom
I go with my bright little lantern
My lantern is going with me
Above me the stars are shining
On Earth shines my lantern for me
My light grows dim, I must go in
La-bimmel-la-bammel-la-boom-boom-boom
My light grows dim, I must go in
La-bimmel-la-bammel-la-boom-boom-boom
Ich geh' mit meiner Laterne
Of course, I find that songs are most beautiful in their original language. See if you can sing "I Go With My Bright Little Lantern" in German with me!
Ich geh' mit meiner Laterne
Und meine Laterne mit mir
Dort oben leuchten die Sterne
Und unten leuchten wir
Mein Licht ist schön, könnt ihr es nicht sehen?
Rabimmel, rabammel, rabum
Mein Licht ist schön, könnt ihr es nicht sehen?
Rabimmel, rabammel, rabum
Ich geh' mit meiner Laterne
Und meine Laterne mit mir
Dort oben leuchten die Sterne
Und unten leuchten wir
Mein Licht ist aus, ich geh' nach Haus
Rabimmel, rabammel, rabum
ein Licht ist aus,ich geh' nach Haus
Rabimmel, rabammel, rabum
Laterne, Laterne
"Laterne, Laterne" is another traditional song from Germany, I've never found (or made) a translation that I like! Enjoy learning it German. Even in Germany and Austria, many people only sing the first verse... but isn't it a fun challenge to learn more?
Laterne, Laterne, Sonne, Mond und Sterne
Brenne auf mein Licht, brenne auf mein Licht
Aber Du meine liebe Laterne nicht
Laterne, Laterne, der Mond scheint in der Ferne
Wenn es dunkel ist, wenn dunkel ist
Weiß ich wie schön Du meine Laterne bist
Laterne, Laterne, im Dunkeln, da leuchten die Sterne
Sie leuchten so hell, sie leuchten so hell
Ich zünd dann meine liebe Laterne schnell
Laterne, Laterne, in den Himmel schaue ich gerne
Viele Kinder gehen, viele Kinder gehen
mit ihren Laternen, das ist wunderschön
Laterne, Laterne, Sonne, Mond und Sterne
Brenne auf mein Licht, brenne auf mein Licht
Aber Du meine liebe Laterne nicht
Saint Martin, Saint Martin
The European tradition of Lantern Walks is in honor of the Catholic Saint Martin, whose saint day falls on November 11 each year. On that day, children walk through the streets singing these songs and gently swinging their lanterns. When I lived in Austria, we also completed this walk with a skit from the children about Saint Martin. Here is a song to tell you a part of his story that is often celebrated on these cold lantern walks.
Saint Martin, Saint Martin
Saint Martin rode through wind and snow
On his strong horse, his heart aglow
He rode so boldly through the storm
His great cloak kept him well and warm
By the roadside, by the roadside
By the roadside a poor man arose
Out of the snow in tattered clothes
He said please help me with my plight
Or I shall die of cold tonight
Saint Martin, Saint Martin
Saint Martin stopped his horse and drew
his sword and cut his cloak in two
One half to the beggar man he gave
And by this deed a life did save
Saint Martin, Saint Martin
Saint Martin rode through wind and snow
On his strong horse, his heart aglow
He rode so boldly through the storm
His goodness kept him well and warm
Sankt Martin, Sankt Martin
Sankt Martin ritt durch Schnee und Wind
Sein Ross, das trug ihn fort geschwind
St. Martin ritt mit leichtem Mut
Sein Mantel deckt ihn warm und gut
Because this song is originally in German, I've shared the first verse of the song in German at the end! Did you notice?
Je porte ma laterne jolie
Lantern walks are celebrated in France, too. This is one of my absolute favorite lantern songs, perfect for anyone in 3rd grade and up.
Je porte ma laterne jolie dans la nuit
Je porte ma laterne jolie une étoile me suit
La-la-la-la-la-la, ô bonheur
La-la-la-la-la-la dans mon coeur
Je porte ma laterne allumée, nuit bien aimée
Je porte ma laterne allumée, sous le ciel étoilé
La-la-la-la-la-la, ô bonheur
La-la-la-la-la-la dans mon coeur
To be really, really fancy, you can even sing this song in a round. The second voice can enter after "Je porte ma" for some tight harmonies, but it also sounds beautiful with the second voice entering at the end of the full line "Je porte ma laterne jolie", which can also be a third vocie's enterance.
Rise Up, O Flame!
This music for this round was written by Christoph Praetorius, a musician from the Rennaissance. We don't know when he was born, but he died in 1590. He became deaf in 1581, but continued composing music, some of which is still performed today! His songs has lived a long time, but his nephew, Michael Praetorius, wrote music that is even more famous and celebrated.
Enjoy this song, which has been sung for more than 450 years! I love to save it for the end of a lantern walk.
Rise up, O Flame, by thy light glowing
Show to us beauty, vision, and joy
Like "Je porte ma laterne jolie", this song can be sung as a round.
Here is Ms. Sylvia singing all the songs covered above: