The Day of St. Valentine is celebrated in numerous countries on 14th February. However, on this particular day, Serbia celebrates a holiday dedicated to wine and vine, equally celebrated by vinegrowers, wine-makers and restaurant & cafe owners across Serbia, as well as numerous winelovers. The celebration of Saint Tryphon’s Day has grown into a form of genuine wine feast.

Saint Tryphon was born in the village of Kampsade in Phrygia (present day Turkey) in 3rd century AD. Already as a child, he started sustaining his family by taking care of geese owned by wealthy villagers. He also possessed healing powers, thus being able to cure people and cattle and exorcize evil spirits. Saint Tryphon is widely venerated as protector of wine and vineyards. For that reason, he is commonly depicted in Orthodox Christian icons with a vine and scythe in his hands. Written records from 16th century mention St Tryphon as protector of vineyards and fields, which bears witness to deeply rooted veneration of cult related to this Saint among Serbian people.

St Tryphon’s Day is celebrated in Serbia similar to all other Feasts of the Patron Saint (i.e. Slava). Festive bread, boiled wheat and wine are prepared for the feast. Our vinegrowers visit their vineyards on this particular day, prune a few vines and sprinkle them with wine, as it will restore power of the vineyard and awaken life’s juices in the plants after a long period of hibernation, according to popular belief. Vineyards are to be visited at the crack of dawn. In some regions of Serbia, festive meal is prepared in the vineyard, so even casual passers-by are invited to join and raise a toast for the bountiful year.

There are numerous popular customs and beliefs related to this day, many of them rooted in pagan times. It is believed that on 14th February St. Tryphon drives a burnt stick into the ground, causing the snow to melt and symbolizing the end of long winter. If St Tryphon’s Day happens to be snowy or rainy, then the year will be bountiful. On the other hand, if the weather is clear, the year will bring draughts and poor harvest. In Timok region (east Serbia), a pregnant woman is invited to enter the vineyard and prune one vine, as it will symbolically contribute to good harvest and high-quality wine.

Nowadays, this holiday is celebrated by numerous Associations of vinegrowers and wine-makers. Therefore, the villages of Iđoš, Neštin, Aradac, Mol, Dolovo and many other vinegrowing villages in Serbia will celebrate St Tryphon’s Day with local feasts and wine festivals. Ivanović Winery will be the host of feast in Župa region.

And in Bucharest, numerous winelovers, members of #winelover organization will gather to celebrate 3rd anniversary of the organization and St Tryphon's Day. Thus, St Tryphon ha sgained international recognition because this day will be celebrated worldwide, particularly on #winelover events this year in Bucharest and Lisbon.

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