2. The ancient legend says that
St. Martin was riding his horse
in a stormy, snowy and windy
winter day when he saw a
beggar shivering in cold.
The Saint came down from
his horse and shared his cape
with the freezing beggar.
3. Amazingly, after he had
done this kind gesture, the
storm gave place to a sunny,
warm day.
4. According to the legend,
God had sent that ray of
sunshine to remind Mankind
of this kind gesture.
Surprisingly every year a few
days of sunny weather
happen around this date.
5. This date is celebrated all
over Portugal, by the fireplace.
It is the day to go to the cellar
and taste a bit of the last
crop`s wine.
6. We call our friends to have
a glass of água-pé (a soft new
wine) and eat some roasted
chestnuts.
7. Some popular sayings related to St. Martin’s celebration
Dia de São Martinho – lume, castanhas e vinho.
St. Martin´s Day – fireplace, chestnuts and wine
Pelo S. Martinho vai à adega e prova o vinho
“On St. Martin’s Day get down to the cellar and taste the wine”
No dia de São Martinho mata o teu porco e bebe teu vinho.
On St. Martin´s Day kill your pig and drink your wine
8. As we live in the surroundings of a rural area, there´s the
tradition to go to Golegã (a small town nearby). It hosts “Feira de
São Martinho” with bullfighting, horse parades and general
bonhomie. Here takes place a famous street market where one
can drink wine and eat chestnuts. This event lasts a week but its
peak is on the 11th November (St. Martin´s Day).
