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What it is

• São Martinho, 11 November. Turismo Centro de Portugal writes that "Todos os anos, a 11 de novembro, é dia de celebrar São Martinho" and that this is generally the day when the new wine can be tasted for the first time.
• The magusto. The national heritage inventory (Matriz PCI) describes the magusto of São Martinho as an occasion for meeting and celebration among relatives and neighbours, marked by eating chestnuts and tasting new wine. Turismo Centro adds that making magustos on this day is still a tradition.
• Chestnuts. Turismo Centro suggests eating them hot, roasted or boiled with fennel (erva-doce).

What people drink

Alcohol is part of the tradition, and an adult newcomer can join in.

• Jeropiga. Turismo Centro calls it one of the liqueurs most sought after at this time of year, served with the chestnuts. A Moimenta da Beira event listing offers "castanhas, jeropiga e porco no espeto".
• Água-pé. It also appears in the São Martinho verses (quadras) published by the Viseu city council.
• Vinho novo. The new wine of the year is tasted around this date.
• We found no official source for how água-pé or jeropiga are made, so we do not describe it. If you are driving or avoiding alcohol, chestnuts and a hot drink are enough: nobody is counting.

"Verão de São Martinho"

Turismo Centro uses "Verão de São Martinho" for the spell of warm weather that often comes in November. The legend it tells is that a Roman soldier called Martinho shared his cloak with two beggars, after which the sky cleared and good weather lasted three days. It is a legend and a saying, not a forecast: check the weather service before you plan an outdoor evening.

Spain: the magosto in Galicia and the amagüestu in Asturias

• Galicia. Turismo de Galicia describes the magosto as an autumn feast with chestnuts and fire, usually in the first two weeks of November, best known in the south of Lugo and in Ourense. Chestnuts are traditionally eaten with country chorizo and the wine of the new harvest.
• Ourense, 11 November. The Festa do Magosto in Ourense is listed for 11 November, the feast of San Martiño, and has been a Galician Festival of Tourist Interest since 2008. It is spread across neighbourhoods and the Alameda park. We have not seen the 2026 programme, so check the city council page before you go.
• Asturias. Turismo Asturias calls it the amagüestu (also magüestu or amagosto): a communal chestnut roast after the harvest, with chestnuts eaten alongside sidra dulce.

How to join in as a newcomer

We list no event, because we found no official 2026 programme for a specific magusto. These are the usual routes:

• Your câmara municipal or junta de freguesia. Many publish a November agenda; look for "magusto" or "São Martinho" on the council's events page or social channels.
• Schools and nurseries. If you have children, ask the school: the heritage inventory kit mentions magustos held in city schools today, with bought chestnuts and no new wine. We do not know whether your school holds one.
• Neighbourhood associations, parishes, sports clubs and village fairs. Turismo Centro's regional event pages list chestnut fairs and magustos in several municipalities.
• Tourist offices can tell you what is on near you.
• Bring a small contribution (chestnuts, bread, a drink) if invited to a private magusto. This is general courtesy, not a rule from an official source.
• Chestnuts roast in a pan with holes over fire or coals, and the fire can be hot and smoky: keep clear of the pan and children away from the embers.

A few phrases in Portuguese

• Feliz São Martinho! Happy São Martinho!
• Onde é o magusto? Where is the magusto?
• Uma dose de castanhas, por favor. A portion of chestnuts, please.
• Quero provar a jeropiga. I want to try the jeropiga.
• Posso ajudar a assar as castanhas? Can I help roast the chestnuts?
• Obrigado / obrigada pelo convite. Thank you for the invitation (man / woman speaking).

If you're alone

• Things to do alone in Lisbon
• New in Lisbon: first-week ideas for newcomers
• Free things to do alone today in Lisbon
• Free things to do alone today in Porto
• Our guide to All Saints' Day in Spain and Portugal covers 1 November, ten days before.

FAQ

• When is São Martinho in 2026? On 11 November, a Wednesday. Turismo Centro de Portugal gives 11 November as the day of São Martinho and of the first taste of the new wine.
• Is 11 November a public holiday in Portugal? We found no official source saying so: it is not on the mandatory holiday list in article 234 of the Código do Trabalho (as amended by Lei 8/2016). Municipal holidays are set locally, so check your câmara municipal.
• What is the magusto? A gathering around a fire to eat roasted chestnuts and taste the new wine, according to Portugal's national heritage inventory and Turismo Centro. In Galicia it is the magosto, in Asturias the amagüestu.
• How can I join one? Look at your municipality's or parish's November events, ask your school or neighbourhood association, or ask at the tourist office. We list no specific 2026 event.

Sources

• Turismo Centro de Portugal, "No dia de São Martinho, lume, castanhas e vinho" (11 November, new wine, magustos, castanhas, jeropiga, Verão de São Martinho legend): https://turismodocentro.pt/2021/11/no-dia-de-sao-martinho-lume-castanhas-e-vinho/
• Matriz PCI, Portuguese national intangible heritage inventory kit, "Tradições festivas" form (magusto de São Martinho: meeting of relatives and neighbours, chestnuts, new wine): https://matrizpci.patrimoniocultural.gov.pt/Download/Kit/KIT_Ficha%2002_Tradi%C3%A7%C3%B5es%20Festivas.pdf
• Visit Portugal, Chestnut and Jeropiga Festival (jeropiga with roasted chestnuts): https://www.visitportugal.com/en/node/462747
• Município de Viseu, winning "Quadras de São Martinho" (água-pé in the verses): https://www.cm-viseu.pt/fotos/editor2/quadras_vencedoras.pdf
• Turismo de Galicia, "El magosto": https://blog.turismo.gal/el-magosto/
• Turismo de Galicia, Festa do Magosto, Ourense (11 November, Festival of Tourist Interest since 2008): https://www.turismo.gal/recurso/-/detalle/fi-or-000013/festa-do-magosto?langId=en_US&tp=97&ctre=261
• Turismo Asturias, "Asturias o el otoño en 7 tradiciones inolvidables" (amagüestu): https://www.turismoasturias.es/en/-/blogs/asturias-o-el-otono-en-7-tradiciones-inolvidables
• Portugal: Lei n.º 8/2016, de 1 de abril, Diário da República, 1.ª série, n.º 64 (art. 234 n.º 1 Código do Trabalho, mandatory holiday list): https://files.dre.pt/1s/2016/04/06400/0111201116.pdf
• We list no 2026 magusto programme: none was found on an official source.

Last checked: 2026-10-23.

Also read: St Martin's Day in Germany