Drinks of the Day: How to Offer A Toast to St. Anne

Happy Feast of St. Anne – the mother of Mary and grandmother of Jesus.

Did you know?

-          The cult of St. Anne developed in the East and came to the West with the Crusaders returning from the Holy Land.

-          Anne and her husband, Joachim, who prayed to God for children and were rewarded with a daughter whom they named Miriam (the Blessed Virgin Mary).

-          The popularity of St. Anne grew as she became the patron of grandmothers, housewives, pregnant women, broom-makers, lace-makers, and miners (to name just a few).

-          She is also invoked by spinsters and maidens to find them a mate.

-          “I beg you, holy mother Anne, Send me a good and loving man.”

-          The vigil of St. Anne’s Day (St. Anne’s Eve) was a great celebration for matchmaking and debutante balls.

-          Both Johann Strausses composed “Anne Polkas” for these festivals.

-          Following an old saying that “All Annes are beautiful,” these events would be called a “Festival of All Annes” meaning of all beautiful ladies.

-          Fireworks would light the summer sky, and music and dancing would fill the air.

Beers of the Day

-          Forchheim, Germany has an annual 10-day “Annafest” that attracts up to 500,000 visitors, and the town breweries make a special Annafest Bier.

-          You can buy Anne beer steins via the Internet for your own Annafest.

-          So, toast today with a beer and say this toast, “We beg you, holy mother Anne, send our Christian maidens a good and loving man” while listening to some Anne Polkas.

Wines of the Day

-          South Africa has a St. Anna wine. 

-          France has a Domaine Saint-Anne wine, a Boise Sainte-Anne, and a Clos Sainte-Anne wine, and a Chartogne-Taillet brut champagne Cuvee Sainte-Anne in a magnum size.

-          Spain has a Monasterio de Santa Ana wine.

-          Argentina makes a Casa de Campo Torrontes wine.

-          Italy makes a Villa Sant’ Anna wine, and a fine Chianti named for St. Anne is produced in Tuscany.

Cocktails of the Day

-          Saint Anne:  rum, lemon juice, orange curacao liqueur

-          Granny Gala:  Midori melon liqueur, Sourz apple liqueur, lemonade

Drinking With The Saints: The Sinner’s Guide To A Holy Happy Hour by Michael P. Foley