🌰🍷What is São Martinho ?

🗓 On 11 November, "São Martinho" (Saint Martin's Day) is celebrated in Portugal.

🇵🇹 This autumn day is traditionally synonymous with "Magusto" i.e. a popular celebration around roasted chestnuts (castanhas assadas), to be enjoyed with new wine (produced with the previous summer's collection), Jeropiga (a sweet wine liqueur prepared by adding brandy to the grape must to stop fermentation) or Água-Pé (a lower alcohol mixture of brandy, grape juice and water).

🏆 Portugal is one of the main European producers of chestnuts. The main producing region, Trás-os-Montes, is located in the North of Portugal. 🌰 Some figures: 70-80% of chestnuts are exported, 65% to EU countries and 20-30% of regional production is for the domestic market. Brazil and France are among the main importers of Portuguese chestnuts.

About Saint Martin (316-397 in Tours): a soldier and later a bishop, he became the patron saint of beggars, tailors, furriers, soldiers, knights, tanners, restaurateurs and winegrowers.

According to legend, a Roman soldier named Martin was on his way back to his homeland. The weather was very cold and Martin met a beggar who asked him for alms. To protect him from the cold, Martin tore his coat in half and gave one half to the beggar. At that moment, the weather miraculously warmed up. This change in weather would have been Martin's reward for his kindness to the man.

Usually, on St. Martin's Eve and Day, the weather improves and the sun appears! ☀️

Famous "São Martinho" proverbs:

• No dia de S. Martinho, pão, castanhas e vinho = On Saint Martin's Day, bread, chestnuts and wine.

• Por S. Martinho, semeia fava e o linho = On Saint Martin's Day, sow beans and flax.

• No dia de S. Martinho, vai à adega e prova o vinho = On Saint Martin's Day, go to the winery and taste the wine.

Enjoy tasting "castanhas quentes e boas" (good hot chestnuts)!