|
> Tips and Recipes > Expert Tips > What's New
|
Since the Middle Ages, in France, Saint Martin's Day has been the first day of the traditional winter fowl markets, called "marchés au gras". After the harvesting season in October, peasants feed intensively their ducks and geese with corn grains for 2 to 3 weeks. Foie gras is thus available for Saint Martin's Day, along with the new wine that has just been drawn.
During the 16th century, this goose tradition expanded to other European countries, such as Germany or Sweden, where it is still celebrated. Saint Martin's Day is a day of plenty, just like Shrove Tuesday or Thanksgiving!
 |
Who was Saint Martin?
Martin was born in 316 in Central Europe and joined the Roman army at the age of 15. Garrisoned at Amiens, in the North of France, a few years later, he meets a poor beggar freezing to death and nobly shares his coat with him. Then, Jesus appears to him and he decides to convert to Catholicism and to leave the army. He founds the first community of monks in Tours in 360.
The legend says he did not wish to become a bishop so he hid in a shed among geese to avoid being appointed. Unfortunately, the geese started to cackle, so he was discovered and could not refuse to take up his new post!
|
|
|
|
|
