Concerts, events, food and wine-tasting are a part of preparing for St. Martin’s Day all over the country. Photo: Saint Martin And The Beggar. Signed, dated and inscribed Wilfred Thompson 1918, Florence.
St. Martin’s Day, or Martinmas is celebrated every year on 11th of November. This day is traditionally associated with the tasting of young wines and trying goose delicacies. According to the tradition, St. Martin arrives every November on a white horse.
This means that the snow will start falling soon, and not only at the mountains but also in the lowlands. The tradition goes back to 18th century. The vineyard owners would visit their winemakers on St. Martin’s Day to try the new wine and to decide whether they want to continue cooperating with their winemaker for another year or not. This is where young wine tasting came from.
And why are the geese being roasted on St. Martin’s Day? Legend says that St. Martin was originally Roman soldier, who became Christian and after some years a bishop. Geese were interrupting St. Martin while he was preaching, so they are being punished on the roasting-pan. This dish is offered in all quality restaurants, and is usually served with stewed red cabbage, autumn apples and bread or semolina dumplings. The celebrations of St. Martin’s day are held all over the Czech Republic.
In Brno, the young wine of the season will be blessed in the local cathedral of St. Peter and Paul.
As everywhere in Czech Republic, the first bottle of the first 2017’s wine will be opened at 11:00 AM.
After that a parade will start with Martin as a leader on a white horse and the traditional feast will officially begin!
From 10:00 Popupuli I Pop-Up Bar l Brno and FoodPark – food events, organize the “Husobraní & svatomartinský košt 2017” (Geese tasting and celebrations of St. Martin) in Mala Amerika (directions).
From 10 am, the restaurants QUICK bistro, Dobrotky od Loďky and Život z pánve will cook for you the biggest gooseberry delicacies.
“The main thing to look forward are the 3 restaurants that will present their St. Martin specialties. There will also be tasting of young wines and a little food market,” Zdara, one of the organizers says.
And as they days become colder, take your delicious coffee or mulled wine from Popupuli Bar to warm up!
And because here in Brno we love celebrating and having fun, from 11/12 to 11/15 at náměstí Svobody another event will take the baton.
Third annual “Vin/n/osti svatého Martina – Svatomartinské slavnosti” (festival of St. Martin and St. Martin celebrations) where winemakers, farmers, craftsmen traders, traditional snack and musicians will meet at the same place!
The event will start at 10 am every day, and finish at 6 pm, except on the 15th of November.
At the last day of celebrations the event will end at 8 pm.
Come and join the fun that the city of Brno offers you!
