St John's wine

Name for a wine that is consecrated in the church on 27 December, the name day of the apostle John. According to the latest research, a distinction must be made between the apostle and favourite disciple of Jesus (1), the evangelist (2) and the author of the Apocalypse (3) in three different persons. This fourth Christmas holiday, which was originally celebrated until the 17th century, is therefore also known as "Winterhannes" or "Winterjohanni", in contrast to "Johannistag", which is celebrated in summer on 24 June in honour of John the Baptist.

Johanniswein - die drei Johanns

Blessing of the wine

The faithful bring a few bottles of wine to the service, which are blessed. The priest hands out the blessed wine with the words: "Drink the love of St John". This is why it is also referred to as "St John's minne" (minne = Middle High German for "love"). The custom of blessing goes back to a legend. St John argued with the inhabitants of Ephesus about what the right faith was. He had the high priest give him a cup of poisoned wine, made the sign of the cross over the cup, the poison escaped as a snake and John drank without dying (picture left). This is why the chalice with a snake is one of St John's attributes.

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