Our Club is to celebrate Morten’s Aften (Evening) on Saturday, November 22nd at the Atwater Club, with the cash bar opening at 6.30 pm, Roast Goose dinner and desert at 7.30 pm, entertainment and dancing at 9.30 pm.
The Menu includes Leek and Pear Soup, Spinach and Endives Salad, Roast Goose with red cabbage, browned potatoes, sauce, and vegetables, Red and White wine and Stuffed Crepe with Fruits Sauce Anglaise with tea and coffee.
Price is $65.00 per person. Inquires and registrations may be sent to info@danishclubmontreal.com. Registrations no later than November 15th.
A background on the tradtion of the Goose Dinner is written below;
The tradition of Morten’s Aften
This comes from St. Martin’s Day on November 11th which is also called ‘Martini‘ – the day of Martin of Tours’ funeral in Tours in 397 A.D. In Danish and Swedish he is called Saint Morten (Morten or Bishop) and is the cause of numerous legends and traditions. For example, the celebrated Morten’s Evening of the 10th of November is celebrated in several countries with lights and lanterns, and in Flanders and parts of Germany with a horse rider dressed as Morten. In Denmark, Scania and parts of Germany the celebration includes a roast goose dinner. Martin Luther has his first name from being baptized on this day.
St. Morten was appointed Bishop of Tours on the 4rth of July, 371 A.D. The most famous legend says that the pious Morten did not want to be appointed Bishop. He then hid in a barn amongst the geese to avoid the appointment. The Geese cackling betrayed him, and it is said that Morten as Bishop therefore decided that every year the geese should be penalized – by slaughtering and eating them. The oldest known Danish source that describes this legend is from 1616, but there are similar German sources.