The view of intoxication as a sacred or divinely inspired state is not an uncommon belief throughout history. Many cultures, including the Native Americans, held that view, and it's far from a dead belief: even today practices such as voodoo, Santeria, kumina, macumba, and so on, keep variants of this belief alive in their rituals.
Prompts for the Writer
What cultures in your world consider intoxication sacred? What celebrations are built around the 'holy drunk'? What would happen to that culture if a new, stronger intoxicant came along-would they follow the fates of the Native Americans, Aborigine Indians, and African tribes, or take a different route altogether?
Try a short story involving a Puritan attending a voodoo ceremony, or perhaps an atheist alcoholic at a Shinto celebration. What would happen if the outsider decided to participate? Was forced to participate? Managed to convert everyone else over to his belief instead, then discovered that the native's original belief was the truth . . . ?
It's A Cultural Thing
Early Germanic tribes considered drunkenness a vital part of any feast or celebration; anyone who refused to drink was mocked and scorned as a weakling, and this belief, too, can still be found in many areas around the world. Jewish rabbinical authority saw wine as a mixed blessing, one that had to be carefully controlled. Early Egyptians used the phrase "bread and beer" as we would say "good luck."
The Aztecs actually measured their level of inebriation in rabbits-two rabbits for a light buzz, for instance, all the way up to four hundred (at which point the drinker didn't have to worry about a hangover, because he wouldn't be getting up in the morning ever again).
I'll leave you with one final image:
Everyone knows about the Vikings ascending to heaven with the lovely Valkyries to enjoy endless parties; not as well known is that their final bartender is a goat called Heidrun, who dispenses mead to the lucky warriors . . . from her udder.
Prompts For Writers
What is the most bizarre tradition you can come up with for the culture of alcohol in your fictional world? (You probably won't top our own existing traditions, but give it a try anyway). Make that the centerpiece of a short story or scene.
And Now, The End
I hope you enjoyed reading this series on how to use alcohol to add depth and
color to your fictional world as much as I enjoyed researching and writing it.
I'm well aware that I've really only skimmed a very complicated subject, and I apologize for skipping through centuries of history with a few remarks. It's entirely likely that I will pick out more specific aspects of this broad topic to work with in the near future; this series, like my "Maps: Not Just For Directions Any More" eBook, was intended as a basic prompt to get writers thinking and moving forward with their world development.
I would love to hear back from you on what you thought of this series; arguments, compliments, and of course further information on resources that would help me with future research are all more than welcome.
Please contact me here: leona at leonawisoker dot com
Thanks again, and keep writing!
Prompts for the Writer
What cultures in your world consider intoxication sacred? What celebrations are built around the 'holy drunk'? What would happen to that culture if a new, stronger intoxicant came along-would they follow the fates of the Native Americans, Aborigine Indians, and African tribes, or take a different route altogether?
Try a short story involving a Puritan attending a voodoo ceremony, or perhaps an atheist alcoholic at a Shinto celebration. What would happen if the outsider decided to participate? Was forced to participate? Managed to convert everyone else over to his belief instead, then discovered that the native's original belief was the truth . . . ?
It's A Cultural Thing
Early Germanic tribes considered drunkenness a vital part of any feast or celebration; anyone who refused to drink was mocked and scorned as a weakling, and this belief, too, can still be found in many areas around the world. Jewish rabbinical authority saw wine as a mixed blessing, one that had to be carefully controlled. Early Egyptians used the phrase "bread and beer" as we would say "good luck."
The Aztecs actually measured their level of inebriation in rabbits-two rabbits for a light buzz, for instance, all the way up to four hundred (at which point the drinker didn't have to worry about a hangover, because he wouldn't be getting up in the morning ever again).
I'll leave you with one final image:
Everyone knows about the Vikings ascending to heaven with the lovely Valkyries to enjoy endless parties; not as well known is that their final bartender is a goat called Heidrun, who dispenses mead to the lucky warriors . . . from her udder.
Prompts For Writers
What is the most bizarre tradition you can come up with for the culture of alcohol in your fictional world? (You probably won't top our own existing traditions, but give it a try anyway). Make that the centerpiece of a short story or scene.
And Now, The End
I hope you enjoyed reading this series on how to use alcohol to add depth and
color to your fictional world as much as I enjoyed researching and writing it.
I'm well aware that I've really only skimmed a very complicated subject, and I apologize for skipping through centuries of history with a few remarks. It's entirely likely that I will pick out more specific aspects of this broad topic to work with in the near future; this series, like my "Maps: Not Just For Directions Any More" eBook, was intended as a basic prompt to get writers thinking and moving forward with their world development.
I would love to hear back from you on what you thought of this series; arguments, compliments, and of course further information on resources that would help me with future research are all more than welcome.
Please contact me here: leona at leonawisoker dot com
Thanks again, and keep writing!
copyright 2009 Leona Wisoker
Leona may be contacted by email at the following address:
leona at leonawisoker dot com (no spaces, of course)
leona at leonawisoker dot com (no spaces, of course)
That Legendary Drunk:
The Mythology, Folklore, and Rituals of Alcohol (Continued)
The Mythology, Folklore, and Rituals of Alcohol (Continued)
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