Name for a church festival that is celebrated in Central Europe, especially in Bavaria, Thuringia and Austria, on the day of the funeral of St. Martin of Tours (316-397). The day is marked by numerous customs such as Martinsgansessen (Martinigansl), Martinszug and Martinssingen. In Austria, the wine from this year's vintage is served for the first time as a Heuriger on this day; the previous vintage thus becomes a so-called "Alter". This church festival celebrated as "Martini" replaced the Germanic autumn festival. The wine baptism or wine blessing of the...
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