St. Martin’s Day – what to know about this day:
The legends tell us that in the year 337 a.c., very rigorous and cold autumn took place all over Europe.
St. Martin was a Gallic knight who became a Christian preacher and on that day, he was returning home after a battle, riding his horse in the middle of a storm.
On his way, he encounters a homeless that asked for his help. The knight Martin had no money with him but he had dressed a long cape, which he kindly cut in half with a sword and gave it to the homeless to help protect him from the cold.
According to the legend, right at this moment, the storm passed and the sun started to shine. That was considered a miracle and the knight became a saint: Saint Martin.
We love to tell this story to our kids. And like, even more, to believe that, at the end of the summer, we still can have the Saint Matin’s Summer – those last days of sun before we get hit by Autumn.
In his honor, we eat chestnuts – a traditional autumn fruit – and drink Jeropiga – a fortified wine – on November 11th, the day Saint Martin’s death.
Join us on the Free Walking Tour Porto to know all about this legend.
