What is it about 17th March that makes us Boozy?

Most of you will know 17th March as St Patrick’s Day, the foremost Patron Saint of Ireland, which supposedly celebrates Christianity’s arrival in Ireland (and all things Irish too). It generally involves parades, festivals, people dressing up, a lot of green and shamrocks, the singing of raucous songs and of course – booze.

Alcohol runneth through the streets – and veins - on St Patrick’s Day.

However, did you know that this is a date that has long been associated with a good drink and a bit of a party?

The 17th March historically marked The Liberalia – a festival dedicated to Liber Pater and Libera, the Roman God and Goddess of wine, viniculture, free speech, freedom (his name literally means the Free Father), greenery and male fertility. The last one is pretty interesting as it is all linked to him protecting the vegetal seed and then it became all “seed” – a man’s too. But I digress….

The Liberalia was similarly celebrated with parades, festivals, people dressing up (or undressing), the singing of raucous songs and of course – booze.

Some say Liber is another name for Bacchus- the God of Wine, Theatre and Parties. Some say he is a slightly altered version, dropping the theatre in favour of vegetal and male fertility and some say he’s totally different but they’re good drinking buddies.

What is clear in all of this, however, is that the 17th March was and is dedicated to raising our voices in song and our glasses with wine (or Guinness) and celebrating life to the fullest as we parade through the streets.

So the question really is, what will you be drinking this 17th March?