St. Martin's day - when grape juice finally turns into the wine

about 3 years ago

So, we are special country to celebrate tradition which goes way back. This is St. Martin’s day, day when grape juice becomes alcohol. Ok, maybe the juice doesn't turn into wine exactly on that day, November 11, but about a week earlier, but it's a Christian holiday and that's why it's always celebrated on that day. Why is this holiday so important for Slovenians? Because you can drink, and everyone has an excuse why they are drunk on that day, and simple answer? We had to try a new wine and it is a must. 😂 Oh, and on this day, police is everywhere!

A little about this tradition and how we Slovenes turned it into a permit to get drunk.

I'm not a religion person, but because in memory of my grandmother, I'm celebrating it anyway.
My official name is Martina and I got that name from my grandfather, so that at least someone in our family would keep that name and tradition will go on.

The legend of St. Martin
He was a church cavalry officer in Gaul (France). Because he was humble and good-hearted, people loved him and soon legends were woven around his life. The most famous is the story in which he met a homeless man in the winter. Since he had nothing else to give him, he cut his warm military coat in half and gave it to the beggar so that it would not freeze.

He was later elected to be a bishop. Legend has it that in his modesty he rejected this, but later is said to have accepted it nonetheless. He was best known for his advocacy for the poor. After his death, people began to worship him as a saint.

Martin's Day is marked by abundance, and in addition to wine, accompanying feasts are also obligatory, with goose, grinders and red cabbage which are most often on the menu. And why "Martin's goose"? This is associated with a legend that Martin hid among the geese to avoid being appointed bishop. The geese are supposed to betray him with their gagging, so on the day of his death we symbolically sacrifice the goose and eat it.

Allegedly he died on November 11, and to this day grape juice is treated as an impure and sinful new wine, which is transformed into real wine upon blessing. According to folk customs, the blessing can be performed by someone who disguises himself as a bishop - hence the connection with St. Martin.

Martin's Day is actually known only in our country and in Croatia as a wine festival, but in other European countries this day is celebrated with different customs.
For example, in Germany, Martin's processions with lanterns are typical, where children carry paper lanterns in their hands. They sing songs at the same time, and there is also a man on a white horse, representing St. Martin and wears a long red coat. In some Alpine countries they burn the so-called Martin's bonfires.

But these are legends, and I really don’t know how much of this is true. But we all know that you can drink unlimited on this day. 😂

(Pictures are taken with the Iphone 12)