St. Martin’s Day 2025

Cozy St. Martin’s Day with juicy duck at Christianshavn

Again this year we celebrate st. Martins Bishop on November 9th and 10th. The story goes that Morten Bishop hid in the goose pen because he did not want to be appointed bishop. But the geese scolded and gossiped about Morten, who, as revenge, decided that all households should eat goose one day a year.

We do not roast the geese, but instead prepare juicy roast duck breasts and confit duck legs for the guests of Færgecaféen.

Remember to book a table well in advance - and see the menu for Morten's evening below.

St. Martin’s Day Menu

Price for a 3 courses menu: 410, – per. person.
Served only November 9th and 10th

Starter

Smoked salmon on white bread with horseradish cream

Main course

Roast duck (pink roast duck breast and confit duck leg) served with red cabbage, sauerkraut, brown and white potatoes and gravy

Dessert

Old-fashioned appletrifle with whipped cream and red currant jelly

Remember to book a table!

Why do Danes celebrate St. Martin's Day?

On St. Martin's Day we celebrate Martin of Tours, who lived in the Roman Empire in the 4th century. He is said to have helped the poor, cured the sick and raised the dead. He is also known as Saint Martin, Saint Martin and Bishop Martin.

Morten - or Martin if you prefer - was born in 336 in what we now call Hungary. The story goes that at the age of 15 he joined the army and ended up in Gaul, where the rumor of his goodness and his healing abilities spread, and he soon became known as a holy man.

He later became a monk and went home to Hungary to make his countrymen Christians. Without success. It is said that he was only able to convince his own mother of the cause. He was expelled and had to flee back to Gaul, where he settled down and lived in peace and tolerance. Until the citizens of Tours decided to make him bishop.

From here we know the story of poor Morten, who hid among the geese who gossiped about him. Morten became bishop and meted out the punishment to the geese that one day a year there would be roast goose on the tables in every household. But since geese are far apart today, we eat: Duck.

That's why Danes eat duck on Mortensaften

The Danes eat roast duck on Mortensaften, even though we should be eating goose instead of duck. The story behind Mortensaften is that Morten hid among the geese. In Denmark, however, we have chosen to eat Mortensaften. Probably because it is cheaper.

At Christianshavn's Færgecafé we always serve duck on Mortensaften - we prepare duck as juicy roast duck breast and confit duck legs, this is how we believe duck is best served.