Page 151 - Terčelj, Dušan. 2015. The Culture of Wine in Slovenia. Edited by Aleš Gačnik. University of Primorska Press, Koper.
P. 151
Getting to know wine
Wine-related festivities
The best-known and most widely celebrated wine-related festivity in Slovenia is martino-
vanje (the celebration of St. Martin’s Day), organised by winegrowers, their societies, large
wine cellars and victuallers. The festivity has its origins in the old pagan custom when
peasants in early November organised thanksgiving offerings after the harvest had been
stored and the livestock brought in from pasture. Later, under Christianity, this holiday
The baptism of must at the
village celebrations of St.
Martin’s Day in Leskovec near
Krško, 2006. Photo: Aleš Gačnik.
was set for 11 November, the day of St. Martin, who
is a very popular saint. Winegrowers chose him as
their patron and St. Martin’s became the holiday of
young wine, when the must stops fermenting and
wine becomes clearer. There is a saying that “St.
Martin turns must to wine”. The custom includes a
feast consisting of St. Martin’s goose and other local
dishes. In a convivial atmosphere, young wines are
tasted. The person leading the celebration blesses
the wine, thus performing a ritual of turning must
into young wine. Winegrowers in Štajerska and
Dolenjska celebrate very lavishly, while the festivities
in Primorska are somewhat toned down as a result
of the Italians in the past suppressing old Slovene
customs. In large towns, all that is really left from
St. Martin’s is the name, applying to any occasion
around this date when good food and young wine
are consumed.
A somewhat satirical St. Martin on the façade of the Kapelski hram
wine cellar, 2006. Photo: Aleš Gačnik.
147
Wine-related festivities
The best-known and most widely celebrated wine-related festivity in Slovenia is martino-
vanje (the celebration of St. Martin’s Day), organised by winegrowers, their societies, large
wine cellars and victuallers. The festivity has its origins in the old pagan custom when
peasants in early November organised thanksgiving offerings after the harvest had been
stored and the livestock brought in from pasture. Later, under Christianity, this holiday
The baptism of must at the
village celebrations of St.
Martin’s Day in Leskovec near
Krško, 2006. Photo: Aleš Gačnik.
was set for 11 November, the day of St. Martin, who
is a very popular saint. Winegrowers chose him as
their patron and St. Martin’s became the holiday of
young wine, when the must stops fermenting and
wine becomes clearer. There is a saying that “St.
Martin turns must to wine”. The custom includes a
feast consisting of St. Martin’s goose and other local
dishes. In a convivial atmosphere, young wines are
tasted. The person leading the celebration blesses
the wine, thus performing a ritual of turning must
into young wine. Winegrowers in Štajerska and
Dolenjska celebrate very lavishly, while the festivities
in Primorska are somewhat toned down as a result
of the Italians in the past suppressing old Slovene
customs. In large towns, all that is really left from
St. Martin’s is the name, applying to any occasion
around this date when good food and young wine
are consumed.
A somewhat satirical St. Martin on the façade of the Kapelski hram
wine cellar, 2006. Photo: Aleš Gačnik.
147
