The holiday's roots go back to ancient times, when the Bulgarian lands were inhabited by Thracian tribes, who revered Dionysus - the god of wine and vines - more than all other gods. The ancestors of modern Bulgarians who came to the northeastern part of the Balkan Peninsula in the 7th century adopted the Thracian traditions of winemaking and viticulture. The festival of winegrowers was superimposed on the pagan traditions in the popular consciousness.
This pagan holiday was “reformatted” in honor of the Christian priest Tryphon, who was executed in Nicaea in 250. According to legend, on the day of the execution, all the vineyards of the country were attacked by insects and the winegrowers called on Saint Tryphon to protect them.
According to tradition, on this day the vines were pruned in order to get a large harvest in the fall, which is why St. Tryphon in Bulgaria is called Zarezan (Pruned). Now St. Tryphon's Day is celebrated not only by winegrowers, but also by gardeners, market gardeners and owners of wine taverns.
On this day, Bulgarian housewives get up at sunrise. They stew and fry chicken stuffed with rice in a sachak (shallow copper frying pan) and pour buklitsa, homemade wine, into a special wooden vessel. They put everything, along with homemade bread, into a new wool bag, and the owner of the house, throwing the bag over his shoulder, goes to the vineyards, where all the other men of the village are already gathering. From this moment the celebration begins.
After Tryphon, spring comes, and the winegrowers will no longer have the opportunity to relax and gather in a cheerful company. Therefore, for three days in the Bulgarian villages there is smoke like a rocker, there is a noisy celebration. In the vineyard, the men make the sign of the cross, each of them takes a garden knife and cuts three branches from three large grape vines. Then, having crossed themselves again, they pour the wine they brought with them onto the vines. After this, the election of the king of the vineyards begins. A crown of vines is placed on the king's head and a garland of grapes is thrown over his shoulder. He sits on a cart, which is pulled by the winegrowers themselves.
Having reached the village, this procession walks through the streets, stopping in front of each house. The housewives bring out the wine in a white vessel and offer a drink first to the king, and then to all participants in the procession. The king throws the rest of the wine over his shoulder to everyone’s shouts: “May our harvest be rich! May our home be a full cup!” The king replies: “Amen.”
The procession reaches the house of the king of the vineyards, where he, having changed clothes and leaving a wreath and garland, sits down at the head of a sumptuously laid table, to which all residents of the village are invited. The king is chosen from among the wealthy so that he can feed everyone in the area. Wine flows like a river on this day: according to legend, the new wine will be the same as what was served at the table on Tryphon the Slaughter.
On the second day of the holiday, lighter food is served in large quantities - compotes and pickle juice, so that men can recover from what they drank the day before. The next two days are honored as providing protection from wolves. All this time, women do not cut with scissors to prevent the cleft palate from opening; they do not knit or sew. They bake ritual bread and put pieces of it into livestock feed to protect livestock and people from predators.
Recently, following changes in the church calendar, the Feast of Tryphon the Slaughter began to be celebrated on February 1. In many areas, however, the holiday continues to be celebrated on February 14th.
Handmade silver jewelry with a rare nautilus shell. The healing and magical properties of the nautilus shell.
Despite the fact that Czech wine is not as widespread as beer, the tradition of making this drink dates back to the distant past. The very first vineyards in the Czech Republic appeared back in 280, when grapevines were planted on the slopes of Palava. Since then, in many parts of the Czech Republic they began to grow grapes and make a wonderful aromatic drink, which became popular first thanks to the monks, and then to wealthy citizens who created their own vineyards and opened private wineries. Therefore, it is not surprising that with the arrival of September, the grape harvest festival begins throughout the country, where you can try wine cider - “mosht” and young grape wine - “burchak”.
Vintage Festival in Znojmo
The largest grape harvest festival takes place on the streets of the Czech town of Znojmo. The celebration is accompanied by live music, not only modern, but also medieval. Any holiday guest will hear their favorite melodies, since the repertoire is very diverse - from jazz to rock. In the Church of St. Nicholas of Znojemski, a chamber orchestra performs and classical music concerts are held on Saturdays. In addition to musical concerts, during the holiday you can enjoy ancient dances, fencing tournaments and theatrical performances. However, the main thing at the grape harvest festival is still the theme of wine, so everyone can try different varieties of this drink. Numerous tastings take place both under the beautiful arches of Znojmo Castle and in large and small wineries that open their doors to visitors during these holidays. During the holiday, the famous King John of Luxembourg comes to Znojmo with his wife Eliska Přemyslovna. The costume procession will travel throughout the city and end with a celebration in the Upper Park. The royal procession is usually accompanied by a torchlight procession with a fire show.
Grape harvest festival in Mikulov
Not far from Znojmo, in the famous Palava region, an equally magnificent grape harvest festival takes place. Festive celebrations and festivities are held in Mikulov. Guests of the celebration are invited to enjoy an extensive musical program, which takes place on Capuchin Street, in the castle and on the main street of the city. In addition to musical concerts, guests of the holiday have the opportunity to visit a bird exhibition, watch Gothic dances, a fire show, and also laugh at the jokes of comedians and jesters. A medieval folk crafts fair opens in the castle park, where guests can learn local songs. However, the hero of the occasion, wine, remains the center of attention. The National Wine Competition is held at the Galant Hotel. A real wine-making town is growing up on Kapucinska Street, where you can taste young wine “burczak”, as well as various types of wines and delicacies. In the city castle, the tasting takes place under the guidance of a special moderator. The main event of the holiday will be a solemn procession in ancient and national costumes, which will march through the streets of the city. There will also be a historical procession of King Wenceslas IV, who arrived with his retinue.
Grape harvest festival in Prague
Prague, along with other cities in the country, can also boast of holding a grape harvest festival, and several festivals take place in different areas. The Czech King Charles IV periodically issued decrees to open new wineries and increase the number of vineyards in the “Mother of Czech Cities.” In the Prague district of Vinohrady, celebrations began to be held recently, in 1997, since then it has become so popular that thousands of tourists flock to it every year. Guests of the holiday will enjoy a varied musical program, a procession in ancient costumes, and, of course, a tasting of aromatic wine, delicacies and young “burchak”. In addition, anyone can take part in the grape pressing process. In another district of the Czech capital, Grebovka, festive festivities take place in the Havlíčkovy Sady park. The performance involves ancient gods, nymphs, dancers, and satyrs. Here you can see the ancient market and Roman baths. All this action goes well with tasting Czech wine, which will create an even more festive atmosphere. In the Troy area, on the territory of the Troy Vineyards, in the chapel of St. Clare, a wine and “burchak” tasting takes place. Anyone who comes to this place can take part in the celebration and enjoy the extensive musical program.
Vintage Festival in South Moravia
The main wine-growing region of the Czech Republic is the region of South Moravia. Connoisseurs of quality wines consider this region of the country as authoritative in the production of this drink as for the French Champagne. A huge number of tourists come to Moravia every year, preferring a relaxing holiday among picturesque nature, complemented by the atmosphere of wine cellars. In total, there are about ten thousand wine cellars in the Czech Republic and most of them are located in South Moravia. Therefore, grape harvest festivals are held in many towns and villages in this region. In addition to the largest and most famous ones, in Znojmo and Mikulov, holidays are held in Valtice, Bzenetsk, Straznica, Pavlov and many others. On holidays, music concerts, various competitions, costume parades, and folk dances are held here. The main thing, of course, is the tasting of Moravian wines, accompanied by popular dishes of Czech cuisine.
Vintage FestivalVKarlštejn
The famous Czech castle Karlštejn annually hosts the Karlštejn wine harvest festival. In addition to tasting Carlstein wines, “burchak” and culinary delicacies, guests of the holiday will be treated to a display of medieval clothing, performances by fakirs, fire-swallowers and court magicians. And also watch the royal knightly tournament and buy souvenirs at the medieval fair. The apotheosis of the holiday will be a costumed historical procession, led by Emperor Charles IV himself.
How nice it is to sit by the fire in chilly weather, with a promising “crack”, pull the cork out of a dusty bottle and pour fragrant moisture into a glass, preserving the aroma of the hot sun, free breeze, generous earth! Divine pleasure, isn't it? And we owe this pleasure to the beautiful creation of nature - the grapevine. It is not surprising that over the many centuries that have passed since humanity began cultivating grapes, the ceremonies associated with their ripening and harvesting have acquired the character of a national holiday and are celebrated in different countries with invariably wild fun.
Let's begin our acquaintance with the grape harvest holidays from the ancient wine region - Hellas. Long before our era, the inhabitants of the Peloponnesian Peninsula organized festivities dedicated to the god Dionysus, timed to coincide with the beginning of the collection of a valuable product. The fun at these festivities was very riotous and even often obscene. It acquired a decent appearance during classical Greece, in the 5th century BC. Through the streets of cities, from the temple of Dionysus to the temple of Athena, young men carried grapevines, after which competitions of “staphylodromoi” - runners with grapes - were held. Nowadays, different regions of Greece celebrate the day of the grape harvest at different times, staging theatrical performances to introduce tourists to ancient history.
Now let's move to another ancient grape region - Italy. The most popular and generous holiday there is considered to be the grape festival in the city of Marino, near Rome. It is held on the first Sunday of October, the festival begins with a solemn mass and the opening of the fair, parades of medieval knights and tournament re-enactments take place. And then comes the turn of the main event - in the square in the center of Marino, white wine begins to flow from an ancient fountain! Of course, the assembled spectators do not really allow him to wander aimlessly into the ground; a cheerful feast at the fountain and in the surrounding wine cellars simmers until the night. As darkness falls, the lights come on and the sky lights up with fireworks. Every year one and a half hundred tons of grapes are spent on the holiday.
Moving further west, we find ourselves in sunny Spain. Here you can really celebrate until you drop - in September-October, as many as ten grape harvest festivals take place in different Spanish provinces! However, the program for all these holidays is similar - theatrical stamping of grapes, wine and gastronomic tastings, excursions to enotecas. The differences are mainly related to local cultural traditions - for example, in the Basque Country, the highlight of the program is considered to be bullfights and pelota - a kind of ball game. Valladolid annually prepares a giant paella for four thousand eaters. Zaragoza hosts Spain's largest gastronomic festival. Everywhere is fun and interesting.
Next to Spain, at the very edge of the Iberian Peninsula, sits small Portugal. Here, too, they do not forget to pay tribute to the beautiful vine - in the second half of September, local residents enthusiastically organize the Vindima festival. Traditionally, grapes are crushed; gastro tours and folklore performances are organized for tourists. And in the island possessions of Portugal, Madeira, a festival is held dedicated to the famous wine that bears the name of the island. It is very popular among tourists, who can take part in various costume shows, watch a parade of grape pickers and taste wines for free. In addition, they have the opportunity to take part in the process of making Madeira themselves.
In France, famous for its wines, one of the most popular wine festivals is the celebration of young wine - Beaujolais Nouveau. According to tradition, it takes place on the third Sunday of November, when the grapes have already been harvested and pressed, the fresh juice has stood for several weeks and has turned into a light young wine with a bright taste. It is not stored for a long time, so the French have a tradition on this day of going around several bars and drinking at least a glass in each so that the goodness does not go to waste. And in the capital of France, at the beginning of October, a local harvest festival is held - it turns out that in Paris there are also vineyards in Montmartre. The wine from Montmartre itself is not considered something refined, but on this day you can watch performances of folk ensembles from all over the country.
Small, mountainous Switzerland also has its own vineyards, and at the end of September local winegrowers hold a Wine Festival. For three days, the small town of Neuchâtel drinks, walks, and has fun. The streets are painted with various decorations, city brass bands are thundering, one and a half hundred thousand tourists are tasting wines and gorging themselves on the delights of Swiss cuisine. Stands selling wine are installed at every step, people are delighted and ecstatic. and at the end of the celebration, a grand parade of ancient carriages decorated with garlands of flowers is organized. A piquant detail: according to tradition, only virgins are allowed to decorate them...
The traditions of viticulture are treated with great respect in Romania. It is not surprising, since Romanians consider themselves direct descendants of the Romans and believe that the rich wine-making history of Ancient Rome continues in their country. At the end of September, on the Exaltation of the Cross, “grape week” begins in Romania, exhibitions, tastings, and fairs are held. Jugs and even barrels are displayed at the wine cellars for everyone to enjoy. At the market, customers are given whole tubs of wine - try it for your health! And these days old people splash wine in the faces of children so that there is abundance in their homes.
In neighboring Bulgaria, traditions are similar to Romanian ones - the grape harvest also begins on Cross Day, the holiday is called Grozdober. Bulgarian families, wearing festive clothes, go to the vineyards to pick the first bunch. It is believed that before this, new grapes cannot be eaten. In the evening, priests bless the harvest, meals and homes, after which the people begin the festive dinner. Of course, the holiday attracts many tourists; performances and folk ensembles are organized for them. In the central square of a town or village, the most beautiful girls crush grapes in large vats with their feet to the sounds of music.
Now let's move to the other side of the Black Sea, to sunny Georgia. Georgians believe that it was in their country, in the Alazani Valley, that people began to grow grapes and make wine from them. The holiday dedicated to the beginning of the harvest is called Rtveli. The grape harvest here begins at the end of September, the date depends on the ripening period. Large Georgian families come to the gathering, and there are hundreds of them here! They work during the day, and in the evening they enthusiastically empty containers for the new harvest, and many toasts are made. It is considered obligatory to drink to Georgia, St. George, to the harvest, parents, friends, women, to the world... then whoever wants to do it. And so on for several days until the grapes are harvested.
Of course, in addition to the countries and festivals listed above, there are many more wine-growing regions, and probably in all of them there is a custom to celebrate the beginning of a new harvest. We touched upon the most deserved ones, where all world viticulture came from. It's nice to see that all these places have maintained a respectful attitude towards the sunvine, a source of prosperity for local residents, joy and fun for everyone. Let's hope that the good tradition of growing grapes will continue for many years to come, despite all sorts of climatic disturbances, religious and other prejudices. After all, a heavy bunch filled with earth and sun is one of nature’s greatest gifts to man!
Rtveli Festival: vivid photos and videos, detailed description and reviews of the Rtveli Festival event in 2019.
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In our minds, Georgia is a country of mountains, gorges, sea, ancient temples, monasteries and, of course, wine. Wine is not just the calling card of the country, its national pride, it is the key to prosperity, because in almost every Georgian family someone is involved in winemaking. It is clear that for centuries the wine harvest was expected with trepidation: there will be no wine, there will be no joy and prosperity. In Georgia there is even a special holiday dedicated to the harvest. It is called Rtveli and is considered one of the most beloved in the country.
The holiday is ancient, dating back to the famous Greek orgies dedicated to the god of wine, Dionysus. Of course, with the adoption of Christianity, pagan symbols fell out of use, but the meaning of the holiday remained the same: people together rejoice at the grape harvest and prepare new wine.
How is the holiday going?
In our tradition, the New Year is considered a family holiday, in other latitudes it is Christmas, but in Georgia it is, undoubtedly, Rtveli. No matter how far the lives of family members are scattered, they all inevitably come together for a holiday with relatives who are winemakers. There is no single time for it: although Georgia is a small country, the climate in different parts of it varies significantly. For example, in Eastern Georgia, Rtveli takes place earlier than in Western Georgia, usually in September, since early frosts may strike and the grapes will be lost. But in the West they sometimes celebrate in the middle and even at the end of October. In addition, the date depends on what the summer was like: if it is very dry and hot, then the celebration happens earlier, if it is cool, then the winemakers wait until the last minute to collect.
It is impossible to try wine from a new harvest before a couple of months later, so during Rtveli, wine from previous harvests is used.
How to get to Rtveli
Today, when Russian tourists are extremely interested in Georgia, many options for tours to this country are offered. Without a travel agency, it is almost impossible to get to the holiday “from the outside.” To do this, you need to have friends who want to invite travelers to a family celebration. As a rule, such a tour is designed for a day or two; tourists are brought to a family, and they observe the production of the first wine. First, it is crushed with feet in special clay vats, then loaded into ceramic vessels - qvevri, previously freed from old wine and thoroughly cleaned. Then the famous Georgian feast begins, with long toasts and speeches, tourists take direct part in it.
Rtveli lasts more than one day; many Georgians specifically take a vacation during this time.
Anyone who wants to visit the wine-growing regions and experience the special flavor of the Georgian feast should vacation in Georgia in September-early October to attend the colorful and cheerful Rtveli holiday.