Martinje celebrations in Sveti Ivan Zelina this weekend 🍷

November may be a bit of a quiet month as far as celebrations go. Autumn has well and truly set in – bringing rather changeable weather – the days are shorter, the madness of Halloween is over and there’s no Christmas cheer (yet) to entertain us. If that’s your current mood, here’s something that will cheer you up – Martinje / St Martin’s Day! The charming town of Sveti Ivan Zelina, just 40 kilometres north east of Zagreb, is holding its Martinje celebrations on Saturday 8th November this year – read on below for their plans.

Martinje celebrations in Sveti Ivan Zelina, 8th November 2025

What is Martinje?

St Martin is the patron saint of vintners and wine, and the saint’s day is marked on 11th November each year. (Celebrations are normally held in the days before or after, depending on where in the week this falls.) This particular day is when wine is blessed and thanks are given for a good harvest; it is also the day when “young” wine is considered good to drink. It’s the perfect event in the run-up to Christmas – full of good wine and food, and general cheer and merriment. Just the thing for autumn.

Martinje is marked in many towns and locations across Croatia. Check locally to see what events are taking place.

Martinje celebrations in Sveti Ivan Zelina, 8th November 2025 - Young wine — Young wine

This year’s Martinje celebrations in Sveti Ivan Zelina

At 11am on Saturday, 8th November on the central Ante Starčević Square in Sveti Ivan Zelina, Martinje celebrations will begin. There will, of course (of course!), be plenty of opportunity to sample young, local wine, expertly poured for you by Zelina winemakers and the Winemakers and Winegrowers Association Brina. Tasty food such as hearty sausages will be available, and excellent music will be a feast for your ears, provided by the tamburitza band Fini dečki.

A very important part of Martinje celebrations is the blessing of the young wine – this is a centuries-old tradition. This will also take place, performed by the Bishop of Martin.

This year’s events will be hosted by Sveti Ivan Zelina alongside Zagreb County and the towns of Jastrebarsko and Samobor as part of the In cultura veritas project.

Marinka Zubčić Mubrin, the director of Sveti Ivan Zelina Tourist Office, says:

Don’t miss this chance for good entertainment, socialising and enjoyment of a good drop of wine. St Martin is coming! He will baptise it, you will drink it!