Each year, Silicon Valley International School (INTL) brings the community together for Laternenfest, a cherished tradition that celebrates compassion, kindness, and giving. Students from all three of INTL’s language-immersion programs celebrate the event through lantern-making, storytelling, and song, creating a memorable cross-cultural experience that emphasizes the importance of helping others.
Central to the Laternenfest celebration is the story of St. Martin of Tours, a Roman soldier-turned-saint known for his selflessness. His famous act of cutting his cloak in half to share with a beggar on a snowy night serves as a timeless lesson in generosity. At INTL, the festivities blend cultural learning, creativity, and community involvement, making the event deeply meaningful for students and families alike.
The celebration began during the week leading up to Laternenfest with students on both of INTL’s beautiful campuses preparing handmade lanterns, learning German lantern songs, and discussing generosity. Elementary School German Program students performed a play about St. Martin during a student assembly, teaching their classmates about kindness and empathy. This delightful production not only entertained but also reinforced some of the values central to the International Baccalaureate (IB) Learner Profile, such as caring and reflection.
At the end of the week, the INTL community gathered on Willows Campus in the evening for the heartwarming celebration of Laternenfest. As families came together, they enjoyed hot apple cider and Weckmänner—sweet bread rolls shaped like little men, a traditional treat of the celebration. A highlight of the night was the captivating shadow puppet play performed by German Program faculty and INTL Upper School students creatively illustrating the story of St. Martin. The night culminated in a beautiful lantern parade, with students proudly carrying their handmade lanterns while singing a traditional German lantern song, Ich geh’ mit meiner Laterne.
In alignment with this event, INTL organized a coat drive for local nonprofit groups. This act of service helped students and families live out the lessons of compassion and giving, central to St. Martin’s story. Laternenfest is one of many events that weave cross-cultural traditions into the fabric of INTL’s school year, providing opportunities for students to grow as compassionate, globally-minded individuals. A special thank you to event chair Anna Hertel and all the volunteers who made this event possible.
