St. Martin’s Day returns to Keszthely on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, starting at 5:00 p.m., blending tradition, blessing, and new wine. The evening kicks off in Festetics Castle Park with the national anthem and greetings from facility director Mária Laczkó, Dr. József Brazsil, Grand Master of the Da Bibere Zala Wine Order, and Pastor Emőke Zichy of the Reformed Congregation.
Blessings and Poetry
Clergy from multiple denominations will bless the St. Martin tree and memorial: Titular Dean–Parish Priest István Földi (Our Lady of the Hungarians Parish), Parish Priest András Mezei (Carmelite Basilica, Little Saint Thérèse Parish), Pastor Emőke Zichy (Reformed Church), and Pastor Zsolt Honthegyi (Keszthely and Region Lutheran Church). A St. Martin’s Day poem follows: Sándor Csider’s “Szent Márton temploma újra felépül.”
Lantern Parade and New Wine
A lantern parade with the Gyenesdiás Choir moves to Main Square (Fő tér) for 5:30 p.m. Mayor Dr. Gergely Tóth greets the crowd, then Chaplain András Solymos leads a thanksgiving and blesses the new wines. Performances feature the Gyenesdiás Men’s Choir (Gyenesdiási Dalárda), the Pipitér group of Életfa Kindergarten (Életfa Óvoda), students of Zöldmező Street Primary School, plus Csider’s “Küszöbünkre angyal üljön!” After the show, community groups host everyone for a love feast and new wine tasting.
