Beer, Religion, and a Hangover

Today, I woke up five times wanting to puke. Today, I swore of alcohol twenty times. Today, I asked God to help me get through this hang over seventy times. Today of course was St. Patty's Day Ante. A day in which a good 1/4 of the adult population was nursing hangovers, waking up drunk, or just feeling like beer is worse then Putin and Ukraine in the same room. So in celebration of this hangover, I will dedicate it to the amazing things Catholics have done in the world of beer.

I want to start by saying I do not endorse any religion above another (though The Flying Spaghetti Monster is pretty dope) and in reality I wish religions would unite humanity, rather then divide it. But Beer is as European and Catholicism is, so there is much overlap. You all remember my earlier blog on Belgians, Trappist, and the amazing-ness that it is. But the overlap is more then that. First, lets look at the season we are in, which is Lent. Lent officially begins on Ash Wednesday in which all adults (who are healthy and not in the military) must fast, give up meat (on Fridays), and give alms. In order to prepare for the 40+ days of fasting, Tuesday was a day of feast. People ate like there was no tomorrow, hence Fat Tuesday (or in America...just Tuesday.) Fat Tuesday, better known as Mardi Gras, or even Carnival. 

Somehow this is Catholic...

Yes, Mardi Gras and Carnival are Catholic celebrations, um, began as Catholic. Americans, Brazilians, and the German's all have celebrations before the Lenten season begins. Funny thing, those Germans. I don't know if you know this, they love their beer (hell The Girl Friend is drinking one right now and she's full German). They will literally celebrate anything just so they can get drunk! To name a few drinking holidays we have: Fasching (German Carnival), St. Martin's Day, and how can we forget Oktoberfest. Yes, technically it's not a Religious holiday. But take a look at this website and see what I mean.

This is a Catholic Mass...err, lot's of people drinking.

Finally, a little known fact is that the Running of the Bulls is part of a major Catholic Holiday. San Fermin, honors St. Fermin, who is the co-patron of Navarre. Needless to say, you have to be pretty drunk to run with the Bulls. 

So, if you're drinking with a lot of people most likely you can thank the Catholics (except you know, Super Bowl Sunday, Thanksgiving, Fourth of July,  Cinco de Mayo, Labor Day, Veterans Day, Memorial Day, Flag Day...)

It's also why I do bad things at night, you know, when God is asleep.

But here is a list of other holidays that started with Catholic Undertones:
New Years Eve, St. Patrick's Day, Halloween, St. Valentine's Day (you know...if you're single)

Slainte!

Next Blog, one of the Great Trio will be writting!