HISTORY AND BELIEFS
WHY DO WE CELEBRATE SAINT MARTIN'S DAY?
November 11th, Saint Martin's Day
Saint Martin's Day is a very old tradition and is celebrated all over Europe, but celebrations vary from country to country. In Portugal, it is closely linked to chestnuts and the tasting of new wine. On Saint Martin's day, the magusto is celebrated with family or friends. And in magusto it is customary to roast chestnuts and drink new wine, water-foot or jeropiga.
Legend and Summer of Saint Martin
The story goes that, on a rainy and very cold day, a Roman soldier named Martinho was walking towards his homeland, when he saw a beggar. Noticing that the beggar was cold, and with nothing else to offer him, Martinho took his sword and cut his Roman cloak in half, offering the beggar one of the parts. Continuing on his way, soldier Martinho saw another beggar shivering with cold. Martinho decided to offer him his half of the cover.
According to legend, it was at that moment that the sky opened and the sun came out, and good weather remained for three days. The event became known as the miracle of Saint Martin! This is why, when the weather warms up in autumn, the Portuguese call those summer days São Martinho.
Soldier Martinho traveled to Italy and dedicated his life to the Catholic religion. There are several miracles attributed to Saint Martin and his veneration became popular in the Middle Ages. Saint Martin is the patron saint of the poor, soldiers, conscientious objectors, tailors and winemakers. Saint Martin's day is celebrated on November 11, the date on which he was buried in the city of Tours.