It is another week from the #Seasonchallenge created by 
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Please read the latest post SeasonChallenge #18 - πWinterπ || Highlights of the past week how to participate.
Now, the season is winter, the week is going to be dedicated to love. Yes, St. Valentine. But...
In my country February 14th is a holiday with deep roots and we celebrate St. Trifon. This is the day of the wine and winemaking. Now you know, why I chose the photo of grapes.
St. Trifon's day
On this day the vines are first pruned for the year. This is the time when winter is almost gone and spring is knocking at the door. The time, when vegetation is waking up.
The celebration of wine is transformed from worshipping the ancient gods to the orthodox saint. There is a legend about St. Trifon, who went to prune his vines and because it was very cold he drank some wine. Actually a lot and instead the vine he cut his nose.
Each year on 14th of February people in folklore costumes will gather in the vineyards and will do ritual cut and will pour wine for rich harvest.
It doesn't matter what the weather is, sunny or snowy, it is a tradition kept for centuries.
After the ritual in the fields, the jolly part follows - a big party with lots of wine. Friends and families will continue to celebrate round the table.
Wine was made in our lands from ancient times. One of the oldest tribes that lived in the Balkan peninsula were the Tracians and they were renowned wine makers. To give you a clue who the Tracians were I will mention two names - Spartacus, the gladiator who led the slave uprising against the Roman Republic and Orpheus, the legendary musician from the Greek mythology.
Now back to the wine and my experience of creating own coupage.
We used to have team buildings and once we were in a winery. The place was actually a hotel complex with the winery next to it and enoteca. The enoteca is exact replica of the Tracian tomb located near the village of Starosel. Teams had three samples of different red wines and the task was to mix them in proportion we thought the best. The judge from the winery chose the best and our next task was to create a complete product with proper packaging, label, brand, advert. The unique wine we created was bottled and each employee and worker in the company had it as a Christmas gift.
This is the place, the enoteca, where we had the team building. I am still searching for my photos from that time, god knows where I have put them. If I find them after this post I can make another, showing around that interesting place.
St. Valentine's day
Of course we also celebrate St. Valentine and share presents with the love ones. It is just a new holiday and the population is divided which holiday to celebrate. Some prefer to keep the tradition and to enjoy the drinking, others to be with their loves and some to combine both wine and love.
Since I don't drink I hardly will be joining the drinking party. But I can say cheers.
And to wish you Happy early Valentine's Day!
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