Funny Holidays - Day of Awe of Bacchus

The ancient Greek god Bacchus was depicted as a young man with a wreath of vine leaves and its fruits on his head, holding an ivy-covered staff in his hands Large-scale celebrations were held in honor of the heavenly patron of harvests and plants of all kinds, called Dionysus and Liber by the Romans Religious mysteries, or bacchanalia, were distinguished by their particular riot and frenzy, licentiousness and immorality In honor of the god of winemaking and fertility, abundant libations were poured out, glorification rituals were carried out, and sacrifices were made Thousands of years later, the ancient tradition of honoring the son of Zeus and Queen Semele is our continuation On February 17, a funny holiday is celebrated - the Day of Awe of Bacchus Entire treatises have been written about the benefits of this ancient alcoholic drink The grapevine, along with the olive tree, were the main agricultural crops of the peoples of the Mediterranean and Black Sea region Wine had a good effect on the physical and mental state of the ancient Greeks and Romans, helping to overcome depression and other emotional disorders Juniper and myrtle flowers soaked in the drink were used to treat gastrointestinal diseases; adding honey helped fight anemia It was wine that saved the world from cholera and dysentery in the Middle Ages With its help, water was disinfected from pathogenic microbes and treated for fever and other diseases Peoples with a developed winemaking culture looked at drinking wine as a ritual act with a mystical background This also included the preservation of the recipe, the sacrament of preparing a sacred drink and the conduct of religious rituals that were supposed to appease the forces of nature and the gods The Day of Awe of Bacchus suggests treating wine with no less reverence than the ancient Greeks Therefore, on February 17, an alcoholic drink is consumed not for the sake of drunkenness, but for the purpose of serving one of the gods of Olympus In honor of the holiday, wine with a rich bouquet and a pronounced aftertaste is purchased The atmosphere for receiving the drink should be solemn and consistent with the goal - the glorification of Bacchus The wine is drunk measuredly and leisurely On this day, the connoisseur of “Dionysian moisture” is invited to get rid of the shackles of everyday life and become like a god in joy Or, on the contrary, immerse yourself in philosophical reflections about the meaning of existence, move away from solving the issues of earthly life and think about the eternal A day of awe of Bacchus, spent in the company of other believers, can end in bacchanalia Whether it is worth feeling awkward or ashamed about this, everyone decides for themselves Taking wine to the extreme, a person becomes like God in frantic joy and riot, completely falling under his protection Abundant libations were considered an integral part of the cult of Bacchus in Ancient Greece Therefore, they are not prohibited and are even encouraged on February 17, the Day of Awe of the God of Winemaking and Fertility