St. Martin’s Day feasts: these are the places to eat the best goose legs!

According to one of the traditions, Saint Martin was born in what is now Szombathely, then known as Savaria, and according to other theories, on the hill that is now home to the Benedictine Abbey of Pannonhalma, in the late years of the Roman Empire. He left a military career behind to become a convert, and although he did not seek a high position in the Church, he was elected Bishop of Tours. This is where the geese come into the story: to escape the messengers arriving with the episcopal appointment, Martin hid in a goose-coop, but the animals gagged and betrayed his whereabouts, and he was finally consecrated bishop in 371. His commemorative day, 11 November, was also the day for herding cattle into stables, paying shepherds and tasting new wine. It is no coincidence that today’s Martin’s Day programmes also commemorate the saintly bishop with delicious goose dinners.

Wine and gastronomy will play a starring role in the Martin’s Day celebrations on 11 November at the Wine Cellar Village in Hajós. The wine cellar village, which consists of 24 streets and nearly 1200 cellars, will open its gates on Martin’s Day, and visitors will have the opportunity to taste not only the new wines of Martin’s Day, but also the typical white wines of the Hajós cellars, Chardonnay and Cserszeg spicy wine. The goose dinner will also be on the menu, with duck and goose legs, goose fat bread with red onion and chocolate goose leg cake for dessert.

Between 11 and 13 November, the cellars of the Pannonhalma Wine Region will open their gates and organise guided cellar tours, where you can taste local delicacies as well as wines. Car drivers need not worry either, as they can also buy a non-alcoholic “chauffeur’s ticket”, which includes a food tasting and sometimes a bottle of wine to take away.

Few people know that St. Martin – celebrated at this time – is also the patron saint of the World Heritage site of Hollókő. In his memory, the village will hold a Martin’s Day celebration on 12 November, where the miraculous feast of Saint Martin will be re-enacted, but there will also be chivalry demonstrations, medieval and goose games for the tradition-observant public. Of course, there will be no shortage of goose and duck delicacies either, and for a quick snack, goose fat bread and homemade cakes will be offered.

Martin’s Day is also taken seriously in Bogács, as tradition has it that this is the last day before the 40-day fast before Christmas, which can be spent indulging in a hearty snack. As few people observe a fast before Christmas, the days of local “goose-flavoured” delicacies slip over to 12-13 November. Delicious food and a village fair await visitors to the Cserépi Road cellar line.