"Gewz, lewz, qastan, tin, kemm inhobb lil San Martin"

St Martin's feast, which is commemorated on the 11th of November, is full of traditions in the Maltese islands.

It occurs at a time when walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts and dried figs are found aplenty in Malta, and hence the saying "hazelnuts, almonds, chestnuts, figs - oh how I love St Martin". St Martin of Tours was a Roman soldier, who was converted to Christianity in his adulthood following a dream which he had after helping out a poor man on the street.

In Maltese culture, St Martin's feast is celebrated on the Sunday closest to the 11th November, in the village of Bahrija, where an annual fair and small procession takes place. 

There are many traditional recipes related to the feast with the "Torta ta San Martin" (St Martin's Tart) and "Il-Borza ta' San Martin" (St Martin's Bag), being the most common. All recipes feature a mixture of figs, walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts and oranges. The "Borza ta San Martin" was and is still very popular with children as they receive a bag full of the assorted nuts (still in their shells), fruits which include oranges, tangerines and pomegranates and sweets. The bags were also decorated for the occasion, and the larger and fuller they were was a reflection of wealth by the giver.

This November, Savina will also be paying tribute to this event with the launch of the "Torta of San Martin". Filled with figs and walnuts, this gastronomic delight is artisan made following an age-old recipe. Once you try it you just wonder why St Martin's feast is not celebrated every day of the year... Happy feast!