Here’s one holiday we think will be favored by many around the world. The Croatian holiday day of wine ‘Martinje’, or St. Martin’s Day feast is the celebration of baptizing young wine. We celebrate the new wine of the year! Tastings of the new wine can be found all around the country held at vineyards, at people at home and in bars & restaurants.
Saint Martin was a bishop from Tours in France who is known as the patron saint of winemakers across Europe. St. Martin’s Day, in Croatia known as Martinje, celebrates the end of the agrarian year and the beginning of harvesting, but it also marks the day when must traditionally turns into wine. This tradition has been celebrated since the 17th century in the northern parts of Croatia. During the celebrations they usually prepare “Martin’s goose”. St. Martins Day is always celebrated on the 11th of November in Croatia. It is also the last feast before the fasting of advent, that starts the 4th Sunday before Christmas.
The celebration of honoring grapes maturing is celebrated on November 11th. It is celebrated in villages across Croatia.
Most tourist love to go to Croatia during the summer but November could be the perfect time to discover Croatia’s relatively undiscovered beauty and culture. The making and selling of wine has been a tradition in Croatia for many centuries and remains a prominent and proud part of its heritage. My grandmother and father would tell me countless stores about how they used to make wine growing up. It was something that was a big part of their lives and traditions.
So grab a bottle or two of wine and get together with a few friends to celebrate this fun and wonderful holiday. Cheers or say it like the Croatians “Živjeli” which means “Cheers. Life is beautiful; let’s live” We like the sound of that!
xo The FAM Team
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