Once the leaves have fallen from the trees and nightfall comes earlier each day, late autumn in central and northern Europe can look and feel like a pretty drab affair. But two events in particular, both celebrated on and around Nov. 11, add a welcome burst of fun and festivity to an otherwise quiet time of year.

St. Martin’s Day

Various communities throughout Germany, Denmark, Netherlands, France, Belgium, Austria, Switzerland, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Italy and other lands pay homage to this saint who exemplified the virtues of compassion and generosity with feasts, parades, wine tastings and other gatherings.

St. Martin of Tours was thought to have been born in the year 316 AD in Pannonia, in an area that now makes up part of Hungary, to a high-ranking official in the Roman army. As the son of an officer, the young Martin was also compelled to join the military. While serving in the cavalry in his late teens, he encountered a shivering beggar standing by the city gates in Amiens, France. With a sweep of his sword, he cut his cloak in two and presented half of it to the beggar.

Each year, Martin’s encounter with the beggar and subsequent coat-sharing is the subject of countless reenactments on the weekends closest to Nov. 11 or on the date itself. In Germany, it’s traditional for children to handcraft paper lanterns, illuminate them with electric candles, and take part in parades, oftentimes accompanied by a rider on horseback playing the role of St. Martin. They’ll sing as they go along, and once they’ve reached their destination, they’re likely to be presented with “Weckmänner,” sweet yeast breads baked in the shape of a man smoking a clay pipe. In other areas, this treat takes the form of a pretzel.

In addition to its numerous small lantern parades with local flavor, Prague stages a symbolic procession. At 11:11 a.m. on Nov. 11, St. Martin’s stand-in, dressed as a Roman soldier, will set off from the Charles Bridge. He’ll be in good company, including eleven geese and eleven goose herders, and a horse-drawn wagon carrying more Roman soldiers, along with some snow. Once the procession reaches Křižovnické Square, the snow is handed over to the mayor of Prague, recognition of the fact that winter will soon be here.

An even tastier way to celebrate St. Martin is with the traditional menu of roasted goose, dumplings and red cabbage, all washed down with the first wines of the present year’s harvest. In addition to Prague’s countless restaurants serving up such fare, it’s possible to experience these tastes at a gathering to take place at the Rasinovo waterfront at Náplavka from 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Nov. 8. The mandatory glass needed to take part in the wine tasting offered by the many winemakers on site goes for 150 Czech Koruna, about $7.15. Online: svatomartinskeslavnosti.cz/en

Throughout Slovenia too, St. Martin’s Day is synonymous with celebrations of the new wine, and exploring any one of the three wine growing regions of this small but geographically diverse nation will inevitably lead to endless opportunities for feasting and partying at this time of year. For seasonal celebrations delivered against an urban backdrop, Ljubljana is the place to be on Nov. 8. From 10 a.m.-5 p.m., winemakers from throughout Slovenia will set up their stalls in the streets and squares of the old city center, offering a combined total of some 350 wines to sip and sample. Goose and its accompaniments are on the menu, while a half-dozen groups offer folkloric performances. Entry to the festivities is free; payment for food and drink is rendered in the form of vouchers that can be purchased on site. Online: ljubljanskavinskapot.si

Carnival season commences

While theories may vary as to exactly why this is so, what’s not in dispute is that the start of the carnival season has a fixed time and date: 11:11 a.m. on Nov. 11. On this date, many of the cities considered carnival strongholds hold celebrations ushering in what’s often referred to as the “fifth season.”

In Cologne, some 20,000 revelers are expected to converge upon the area of the Heumarkt to drink, dance and celebrate from the early hours of the morning; once evening falls, they’ll carry on in the city’s taverns. Tickets are needed to access the official celebrations; prices begin at 11.11 euros. Online: tinyurl.com/4vzckjdm

In Düsseldorf, carnival season begins when the character known as Hoppeditz emerges from a large mustard pot set up across from the Town Hall in the main market square. Entertainment is offered on a stage set up there from 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Online: tinyurl.com/3fk9w8ww

The city of Maastricht, in the Netherlands, welcomes in the carnival season with a merry street party held on the Vrijthof and main market square. Once the “Mooswief” statue has been hoisted high on its pole and the new carnival prince unveiled to the public, festivities can begin in earnest. Online: tinyurl.com/y4e3me6y