Martinho was a Roman soldier who lived in the 4th century AD. One winter day while riding his horse, he came upon a half-naked beggar suffering in the cold rain. Martinho took his wool cape and cut it in half, giving half to the beggar. Although the other soldiers laughed, it is said that God rewarded Martinho's generosity by making the clouds part and the sun shine. Martinho later became a saint, and his feast day on November 11th is still celebrated in Europe with festivals, food like chestnuts and new wine.

1. A lenda de S ão Martinho

2. S ã o Martinho (St. Martin) was born around 317 AD. He was a Roman soldier who belonged to the Roman Empire. On a particularly dreadful winter day, Martin was caught in a downpour of rain with only his cape to protect him. While riding to get out of the horrible weather he was approached by a beggar, half naked with hardly a thread to cover him from the cold weather. Martin was moved by the man’s misery. He grabbed his sword, reached back for his woollen cape, cut it in half and covered the beggar. The other soldiers riding with Martin laughed that he was giving away his protection. But legend has it that when Martin covered the beggar the clouds drifted and beams of sun lit up the sky. Martin died on November 8th, 397 AD and was laid to rest in the city of Tours, France on November 11th. He was later canonized as a saint. S ã o Martinho is celebrated throughout Europe on this day, with many agricultural fairs, feasts, and festivals, especially by wine makers.

3. Vocabul ário Vocabulary

5. Havia um grande temporal.

7. Agora é a tua vez. conta a história. Now it’s your turn to tell the story.

8. Martinho | soldado romano | cavalo | chuva | frio

9. Homem pobre | n ão | casa | roupa

10. Martinho | capa | cortou | metade | deu-a | pobre

11. Pr émio | generosidade | Martinho | Deus | sol | c éu azul

12. Hoje | celebramos | dia | S ão Martinho | castanhas | vinho novo

13. Martinho era um soldado romano. Ele ia a cavalo num dia de muita chuva e muito frio. Ent ão viu um homem pobre que não tinha casa nem roupa. Martinho pegou na sua capa, cortou metade com a espada e deu-a ao pobre. Como pr émio da generosidade de Martinho, Deus mandou o sol e o céu ficou azul. Hoje celebramos o dia de S ão Martinho com castanhas e vinho novo. Click once for timed text and mouse over the sound icon for audio narration.

14. Terras de S ão Martinho Em Portugal e outros pa íses da Europa há muitas cidades e vilas com o nome de S. Martinho In Portugal and other European countries many towns are named after St. Martin.

16. Tradiç õe s de S ão Martinho M uitas cidades e vilas organizam festas de S. Martinho para os locais e os visitantes. Many towns and villages organize festivities for the locals and visitors.

17. A viagem das castanhas | Chestnuts’ journey o castanheiro o ouriço a castanha

18. A viagem das castanhas | Chestnuts’ journey  o assador as castanhas assadas  o vendedor de castanhas  o cartucho de castanhas 

19. Feliz dia de São Martinho!