St. Martin's Days in Český Krumlov

Další popis

The feast of St. Martin has historically been one of the most popular of the year. This day has been associated not only with the arrival of the first snow, but also with a true feast with everything that goes with it. The tradition of St Martin's wine dates back to the court of Emperor Joseph II, when it was customary to drink new wine for the first time on St Martin's Day. On this day, the winegrowers who farmed for the larger peasants had to end their service. Its continuation for the following year was negotiated over a glass of the first wine of the autumn harvest and delicious food.

A well-fattened and roasted St Martin's goose, usually served with bread or potato dumplings and red cabbage, is inseparable from this feast. There are, incidentally, two legends associated with this goose. According to one, it is eaten because the geese disturbed St. Martin during the sermon and therefore now serve their sentence on a baking tray. The other says that Martin was so modest that he hid in a goose coop before being elected bishop, but the geese gave him away with their chatter. The St. Martin's Day table also includes traditional rolls filled with poppy seeds or puddings and, of course, the aforementioned young wine, whether red or white, which is an excellent match for Czech cuisine. St Martin's Day celebrations as a time of good food and drink have survived to the present day.

On the eleventh day of November, according to tradition, Martin arrives on a white horse and brings with him not only the first snow, but also the first wine of the year. This is the beginning of the St. Martin's Day feast in Český Krumlov, and selected local restaurants offer St. Martin's wine or goose.