A Halloween/Samhain treat for you.

[capri0mni]

One of my favorite radio shows, that I listen to every week, is "The Splendid Table," about the culture of food in our lives.

Well, on yesterday's show, there was a really interesting (and convincing) interview with a beer historian that linked all the major icons we associate with witches: The tall, conical hat, the broomstick, the cauldron and the cat, with the art of beermaking in the middle ages.

The story is streamed online, here: Witches and beer. Enjoy!

And if you're going to (an adult) Halloween party, tomorrow night, or even if you're not, clink your bottles together to the health of the witches of old, who supplied you with your cheer.

Comments

[lizziebelle.livejournal.com]

I can attest to the fact that a lot of Witches like beer! Although, that doesn't explain the persecution of them... I would think they'd revere the beer-bringers.

[capriuni.livejournal.com]

Well, according to the historian being interviewed, it was mainly because the Church ran the professional brewing guilds (and collected the taxes from them), and these women worked outside the Church's authority, and had the audacity to make profits of their own. Also, brewing was considered a "Woman's Art" (along with breadmaking), and since it's mysterious, and the end result makes you feel good, it must be evil!

[lizziebelle.livejournal.com]

That makes sense.

[pedanther]

Although wasn't it Ben Franklin who said that beer is God's way of saying he loves us and wants us to be happy?

[capriuni.livejournal.com]

Yes, true. but I don't think the witch-hunters would've taken any more kindly to Ben Franklin than they did to these women. After all, he was an disestablishmentarian, and invented the lightning rod, which protects us from God's bolts of wrath.

[indefatigable42.livejournal.com]

Does he mention Bewitchin' Brenda? ^^

I really have no idea whether that's a modern song, but it has the symbolism.

[capriuni.livejournal.com]

No, but he does mention that "glamorous" comes from the belief that beautiful women could put us under a spell with their brews (to which they added several 'feel good' herbs).

If you click the link above, you can hear it for yourself, btw (unless you can't run the player; can you?).

*investigates song*

[capriuni.livejournal.com]

*comes back from investigating the song*

Reads as modern to me, anyway, especially with mention of "Mulligan Stew," and the fact that Brenda is referred to as "Pagan," instead of "Witch." Also, the lyrics are copyrighted to a single person (D. Miller).

I wouldn't be surprised if D. Miller has read this guy's The Secret Life of Beer, though.