Saint Martin's Day and the meaning of the great fire

Why do we light bonfires around 11 November?

When darkness falls early on a November evening and a towering stack of wood begins to glow, something remarkable happens. People move closer to the warmth, faces light up in the flames, and an ordinary open space becomes the heart of a community. In the Belgian town of Zonhoven, this spectacular fire festival is known as Hololool. The name is familiar to generations of local residents, yet the question behind the tradition remains fascinating: why do people light such enormous fires around Saint Martin's Day?

The honest answer is that there is no single, fully proven origin story. The tradition appears to contain several historical layers. The Christian story of Saint Martin, the end of the old agricultural year, long-standing customs involving light, and the human desire to enter winter together gradually became intertwined. This makes the Saint Martin's bonfire religious, folkloric, symbolic and deeply communal at the same time.

Who was Saint Martin?

Saint Martin, also known as Martin of Tours, lived in the fourth century. According to the best-known legend, he was serving as a Roman soldier when he met a freezing beggar at the gate of Amiens. Martin cut his military cloak in two and gave one half to the man. That night, he reportedly dreamed of Christ wearing the piece of cloak he had given away.

Martin later chose a religious life and became bishop of Tours. He died in 397, and 11 November, the date associated with his burial, became his feast day. Across Europe he grew into a symbol of compassion, humility and sharing with those in need. His cloak became more than an item of clothing: it represented warmth that was not kept for oneself, but shared.

Why is Saint Martin associated with light and fire?

The symbolism of light fits Martin's story beautifully. He literally brought warmth to someone standing in the cold. For centuries, the Christian liturgy for his feast also included a Gospel passage about a lamp that is not hidden but placed where others can see its light. Lanterns, torches and bonfires could therefore be understood in a Christian way: goodness becomes visible when it is shared.

The explanation probably does not belong exclusively to the Church, however. By early November the harvest had been gathered, livestock returned from the fields and the darkest part of the year was beginning. Rents and wages were settled, animals were slaughtered for winter provisions, and the new wine could be tasted. For agricultural communities, this was a genuine turning point in the year. Fire meant safety, food, light and life.

Researchers therefore speak cautiously about customs merging over time. It is sometimes claimed that Saint Martin's bonfires descend directly from Celtic or Germanic fire rites. This is an appealing idea, but it has not been conclusively demonstrated. It is more reasonable to say that older seasonal customs and Christian meanings influenced one another over many centuries. Traditions rarely begin on a single day; they grow as each generation adds something of its own.

Martinmas and the beginning of winter

In the traditional rural calendar, Martinmas marked the beginning of winter. In medieval Christianity, 11 November was also followed by a fasting period leading towards Christmas. The eve of the feast became a final opportunity to eat, drink and celebrate generously. The traditional Martinmas goose made practical sense: geese were well fed and ready for slaughter in November.

The bonfire made the seasonal transition visible. The old could symbolically be released, while the approaching darkness was met with light. Folk beliefs also gathered around the flames. Ashes were thought to support the fertility of fields, while fire could protect or purify. We do not have to take these beliefs literally today to understand their purpose. They reveal how communities created hope and reassurance as nature entered its coldest, darkest phase.

What is Hololool in Zonhoven?

Hololool is the local name for Zonhoven's great Saint Martin's bonfire. The word itself remains mysterious. Several explanations circulate, but none can be presented as definitive. That uncertainty has become part of the festival's charm.

In earlier times, different neighbourhoods in Zonhoven constructed their own fires. A friendly rivalry developed: who could build the largest, tallest or most impressive stack? Older residents remember weeks of collecting wood and a bonfire that became the meeting place for the entire neighbourhood. A twelve-metre stack, like one we once helped create, fits perfectly within that local tradition of building boldly and working together.

To improve organisation and safety, the municipality took the lead from 1978 onwards and the event became centralised. What had once been a collection of neighbourhood bonfires grew into a major fire festival with music, entertainment and fire performances. Today it attracts thousands of visitors. Its central idea nevertheless remains unchanged: people gather around one shared fire.

Although Saint Martin's feast falls on 11 November, Hololool is traditionally held on the evening of 10 November, the eve of the feast. The same pattern occurs elsewhere, where lantern processions and bonfires take place on either 10 or 11 November.

Is Hololool connected with the First World War?

Because 11 November is also Armistice Day, the two meanings are sometimes associated. Historically, however, they are separate commemorations. Saint Martin's feast and its folk customs are many centuries older than the 1918 armistice; they simply share the same calendar date.

Their meeting can still create an additional modern layer of meaning. Both the remembrance of peace and Martin's story invite reflection on humanity, solidarity and care for others. This is a contemporary interpretation, not an explanation for the origin of the bonfire tradition.

The spiritual meaning of the Saint Martin's bonfire

A large fire speaks a language older than words. It gives light without making the darkness disappear completely. It warms everyone who comes near and does not diminish when many people enjoy it together. This is why the Saint Martin's bonfire can remain a meaningful spiritual symbol today.

The flames may remind us of what we wish to release before entering a new season. They can represent courage during dark times, the spark that remains alive when everything seems quiet, and warmth that gains its deepest meaning when shared. In that sense, the fire beautifully echoes Martin's divided cloak: we do not need to possess everything before we can give something essential.

This meaning does not have to be supernatural. Sometimes the sacred can simply be found in a community coming together, in children watching with wonder and in neighbours meeting again. A tradition survives not because everyone believes precisely the same thing, but because people continue to give it meaning together.

Why traditions like Hololool deserve protection

Intangible cultural heritage does not live only in old stories. It lives in the hands that collect wood, the volunteers who prepare for months, the families who return each year and the children who feel the glow of the fire on their faces for the first time. When such a custom disappears, we lose more than an event; we also lose part of a local language, memory and sense of belonging.

Hololool also shows that tradition does not have to stand still. The celebration changed from neighbourhood fires into a central festival and added music and spectacle. As long as the story, the community and the shared fire remain recognisable, renewal can help transmit heritage to a new generation.

A light passed from one generation to the next

We may never know with certainty who lit the first fire or how the name Hololool originated. Yet the meaning carried by the festival today can clearly be felt. During some of the darkest weeks of the year, people choose to make light together.

That may be Saint Martin's most beautiful legacy. In the end, it is not the largest fire or the tallest stack of wood that matters most, but the realisation that warmth grows when it is shared. Each generation places another piece of wood on the same ancient fire and helps its light travel further.

Frequently asked questions

When is Saint Martin's Day celebrated?

The official feast day is 11 November. Many local celebrations begin on the evening of 10 November. Hololool in Zonhoven traditionally takes place on that eve.

What does Hololool mean?

Hololool is the local Zonhoven name for its great Saint Martin's bonfire and the modern fire festival. The exact origin of the word is unknown.

Is the Saint Martin's bonfire a pagan tradition?

There are theories about older Celtic or Germanic roots, but these have not been conclusively proven. Heritage specialists also point to Christian light symbolism and the former agricultural calendar.

Why did Saint Martin divide his cloak?

According to legend, the Roman soldier Martin wanted to help a freezing beggar. He gave him half of his cloak and became a lasting symbol of compassion and generosity.