Bean-feast facts for kids
A bean-feast is a fun party or a special meal. In Britain, people sometimes call it a beano. Long ago, it was often a yearly summer dinner. Employers would give this dinner to their workers. It was a way to celebrate and have a good time together.
History of the Bean-Feast
The idea for the bean-feast likely came from the Twelfth Night festival. This festival was popular in the Low Countries (like modern-day Belgium and the Netherlands). Over time, the name "bean-feast" also came to mean any happy event with food and perhaps an outing.
Some people think the name came from a meal of beans and bacon. This idea dates back to 1725. A man named Daniel Day in London started inviting friends for a meal in July. This gathering might have been called a "bean-feast."
Bean-Feasts as Outings
In the 1800s and early 1900s, a bean-feast often meant a trip. Groups would travel to a beautiful place. There, they would enjoy a special meal together. It was a popular way for companies to treat their employees to a day out.
The Bean King Tradition
The bean-feast tradition is closely linked to the Twelfth Night feast. During this feast, people would eat a special cake or pie. This cake, sometimes called a king cake, had a hidden object inside. This object was often a bean, a small metal token, or a tiny pottery figure.
The person who found the bean in their slice of cake became the bean king (or queen). They would wear a paper crown for the rest of the night. The bean king would also choose different "court officials" from the party guests. When the king took a drink, everyone would shout, "The king drinks!" This made the celebration even more lively and fun.
Many famous artists painted scenes of the bean king tradition. Flemish Baroque and Dutch Golden Age painters often showed these festive gatherings. Two well-known artists who painted these scenes were Jacob Jordaens and Jan Steen. Their paintings help us see what these parties were like long ago.
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