Unlike our most recently appointed Supreme Court Justice, Brett Kavanaugh, I don’t like beer.
This isn’t usually a problem. If beer is the only alcohol available, I drink soda and become the designated driver.
However, twice a year – during Oktoberfest and on St. Patrick’s Day – my preference in alcoholic beverages makes me something of a pariah.
Oktoberfest and St. Patrick’s Day share three things in common.
- They both originated as cultural celebrations.
- One does not have to be of the designated nationality to celebrate them.
- Beer is an integral part of each celebration.
Oktoberfest
Source: Gothoberfest by Paperless Post
According to Wikipedia, Oktoberfest is “…a two-week festival held each year in Munich, Germany, during late September and early October. It is attended by six million people each year and has inspired numerous similar events using the name Oktoberfest in Germany and around the world, many of which were founded by German immigrants or their descendants.”
Another Wikipedia article notes the beer-centric orientation of the festival, including this amazing statistic:
During the 16-day festival in Munich n 2013, 7.7 million liters of Oktoberfest beer was served, and presumably consumed. That’s 2,034,125 U.S. liquid gallons.
I hope there were a lot of restrooms available!
St. Patrick’s Day
Source: Paddy’s Pint by Paperless Post
Saint Patrick is the foremost patron saint of Ireland. St. Patrick’s Day is both a cultural and religious celebration and is held on March 17th, the date traditionally associated with his death.
“The day commemorates Saint Patrick and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland, and celebrates the heritage and culture of the Irish in general… Historically the Lenten restrictions on eating and drinking alcohol were lifted for the day, which has encouraged and propagated the holiday’s tradition of alcohol consumption.” (Wikipedia)
An excuse to get out of prohibitions during Lent? No wonder it became a popular celebration!
The absurdity.
I am of Irish and German descent. I should like beer.
Specifically, my DNA test results from 23andme.com, suggest that I am 48.4% British and Irish, 23.4% Netherlander, French, German, and Swiss. The rest of me is 18.7% broadly Northwestern European, 3.0% broadly Southern European, 1.7% broadly European, 0.8% broadly Eastern European, and 0.1% Scandinavian.
Source: Maproom.net
My Irish ancestors most likely came over from the counties of Dublin, Mayo, Donegal, Galway, Monaghan, Cork, Limerick, Clare, Kerry, and Roscommon.
That’s a lot of juice from Saint Patrick.
Source: Wikipedia
My German ancestors immigrated to the United States from Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Maybe that’s the problem.
Oktoberfest originated in Munich, Bavaria, about 200 kilometers (124 miles) away from Baden-Württemberg.
Could that 124 mile distance be the reason I don’t like beer?
Or could it just be that I have more refined taste buds than Brett Kavanaugh?
