Brewing beer began around 6,000 years ago with ancient Sumerian, African, and Egyptian tribes. Although the process of fermentation is said to have been discovered by chance, the practice spread and was revered. Sumerians honored Ninkasi, the goddess of brewing, and they even created a hymn for her that was in fact a recipe for creating beer. Historical records show that drinking beer evoked feelings of exhilaration and bliss and was regarded as a “divine drink.”
Other cultures got in on the beer making and honored the drink as well. In Spain, for example, the word for beer is “cerveza,” which derives from Ceres, the Greek goddess of agriculture. In the Mediterranean, beer became popular even before wine did! By the 16th century, the popularity of beer had spread to Europe and then into the modern Western world.
The Irish are well-known for their beer-loving culture. For over 1,000 years on March 17, the Irish have honored the patron saint and national apostle of Irish, St. Patrick. Historically, the Irish would spend the day in church, and then let loose afterward because the Lenten prohibitions had been officially waived. They would celebrate by dancing, eating, and drinking beer well into the evening. The first St. Patty's parade was held in New York City by Irish soldiers, and by 1848, U.S. parades were operating in full-form. St. Patrick's Day Parades are, in fact, the oldest and largest civilian parades practiced in the states.
Ancient people celebrated beer with the artistic form of hieroglyphs, and today, people around the world continue to celebrate the beverage with beer inspired art inside their homes and businesses. St. Patrick's Day is an excellent time to honor the tradition of beer. If you love beer and want to highlight its cultural heritage in your home, there are many beer-themed fine art prints available at Fulcrum Gallery. Beer 1 by Judy Mandolf is a classic old-world style picture that showcases a bottle and full glass of beer. For a contemporary look, Be Happy by Lori Deiter proclaims: “Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy. - Benjamin Franklin.” For a more feminine style of beer decor, consider the beautiful Bieres de la Meuse fine art print by Alphonse Mucha.
