There is probably no other city in the world that would celebrate the name day of….. its main street.

For the past 17 years on St. Martin’s Day, which takes place on 11th November, a colourful procession has walked along St. Martin’s Street through the city centre and a name day festive has been organised in front of the Zamek Culture Centre. To keep with tradition, money is also collected on this day for charitable purposes and the residents of Poznań eat lots of St. Martin’s croissants.

The street’s name day dates back to a century old tradition. Several hundred years ago, when the defensive walls surrounding today’s Old Town were the city’s borders, St. Martin’s Church was constructed on a small hill west of the defensive walls. As it was in those times, the village was established around the church, whose name was taken after the same saint. Over one hundred years ago, the flourishing Poznan took in the small settlement. However, the church and the saint patron survived.
Just after World War II, when Poland was ruled by the communists, the name of the street was converted into the Red Army. Yet, in 1989 the Poznan council members restored the former name. That is why nowadays St. Martin’s Street is the name of the city’s main street.
For centuries St. Martin has been worshipped as the patron of horses and cattle and the guardian of soldiers and the poor. According to the legend, St. Martin was born in Panonia on the territory of the present-day Hungary in 317. Being a Roman soldier, he once met a frozen beggar and took pity on him by tearing his military coat and giving part of it to the poor man. That event changed Martin’s life forever. He became a Christian and the bishop of Tours.
For centuries, a special church fair has been organized on Martin’s name day. Since the 19th century, after a solemn High Mass, bakers from Poznan used to give horseshoe shape cookies made especially on that occasion to the poor. Not only should every citizen of the City of Poznan, but simply everyone should taste this delicacy.
For 17 years, since the pre-war name of the main street was restored, Martin’s name day has been celebrated not just in the church, but also in streets. A colourful procession gathers in front of St. Martin’s Church. It is led by the very saint that rides on a white horse. The saint is followed by a group of jugglers, disguised people on stilts, musicians, craftspeople, children and adults. After covering the entire route, the parade stops in front of the Zamek Culture Centre. There, the Mayor of the City of Poznan hands over a symbolical key to the city to St. Martin and the party begins together with a gorging of croissants.
Importantly, 11th November is Independence Day in Poland. Motifs of both celebrations interweave in the outdoor event organised by Zamek Culture Centre . This year, guests will have an opportunity to attend open-air concerts in front of the Castle. Two folk bands will perform: Trebunie Tutki and Psio Krew. There also will be a fair of croissants and other regional food products, and, finally, a fireworks display.   

The programme includes:
10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.    
A fair by the Castle
11:00 a.m.                       
High Mass at St. Martin’s Church
2:00 p.m.                 
St. Martin’s Procession - St. Martin’s Church, St. Martin’s Street, Zamek Culture Centre
2:30 p.m.                       
Ceremonial handing over of the key to the city’s gate by the Mayor of the City of Poznan to St..  Martin
3:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.   
Performances by youth and amateur bands
6:30 p.m.                       
Psio Krew
The band is made up the highlanders from the Bielskie 
Tatras and Beskidy native folklore buffs. Their traditional highlander melodies and songs, mixed with special electronics, gave rise to the new original sound
8:00 p.m.                       
Trebunie Tutki
Trebunie Tutki is a family from Biały Dunajec near Zakopane in the Polish Tatra Mountains. It underwent a transformation from a folk group to a band that plays concerts at the biggest world music festivals, while maintaining their own style. They like to experiment with reggae, rock, techno and jazz
9:30 p.m.                       
A fireworks display