Who is today's Saint?

Today is the Feast of Saint Amand. (No his last name wasn't 'Hammer'). Ugh. Amand was made a bishop in 629, but he wasn't given any territory to bishop over. Therefore, Amand was a wandering bishop who roamed much of France, Belgium, Germany and Flanders. He created quite a few monasteries, particularly in Belgium.

Because he was known for his hospitality he is the patron saint of brewers, bartenders, hotel workers, and beer and wine merchants. I'm not sure if it's a coincidence that some of the world's best beer comes from Belgian monasteries. Hmmm. You know there's a little polka ditty that goes 'in heaven there is no beer, that's why we drink it here'. Not sure why I'm digressing like this, except that now I have a polka stuck in my head. If there weren't two feet of snow on the road and if I didn't have those pesky family commitments, I would head right down to my local german bierstube and hoist a liter.

So to all my favorite bartenders, brewers, beer merchants and wine slingers: Happy St. Amand's Day!

Oh, and if Amand were alive today he would not be a saint, he would be Anthony Bourdain.