Mike and Alexandra continue with the Lenten beer series as well as an alcohol-free mocktail series. Topics include:

St. Francis of Paolo and the Paulaner monks

Doppelbock and its origin with Paulaner Salvatore

Pretzels and their origin as a Lenten snack

St. Lawrence in Panisperna, and the 3 other Roman churches for St. Lawrence

Mike and Alexandra welcome Lent by introducing a Lenten beer series, as well as an alcohol-free mocktail series. Topics include:

Happy Lent?

Beer series for Lent: Bock 

The connection between bock beer and goats

Station Days and their historical inclusion in the Missal

Mocktails for Lent

Mike and Alexandra make a classic New Orleans cocktail in anticipation of Mardi Gras, and then discuss various customs and traditions of Carnival, leading up to Lent, around the world. Topics include:

Carnival and its meaning

Shrovetide

What are packzi?

Collup Monday

Nickanan night

Other names for Fat Tuesday

Foley household Fat Tuesday traditions

Mike and Alexandra make a different version of the White Lady cocktail than in December, but it all goes awry when Mike attempts a metaphor to describe how the versions differ. Topics include:

The Apparitions at Lourdes

The Immaculate Conception and St. Maximilian Kolbe

Mike’s embarrassing story about visiting Lourdes

The “dark side” of the Lourdes apparitions

Mike and Alexandra opt not to make a cocktail that can burn your hand, and instead make one that ends up all over the floor. They discuss the many feasts that fall on February 2.

Where did turtledoves get their name?

The Byzantine tradition of St. Simeon’s death

Ritual purification - The evil, the bad, and the icky

Did Mary need ritual purification after birth?

Church ceremony that has taken the place of ritual purification today

Should you have your vanilla nutmeg candle blessed on Candlemas?

And of course, groundhog day and its origins

Mike and Alexandra discuss a cocktail that was not in the Drinking with the Saints book for St. Agnes, but perhaps would have been. It involves a unique ingredient that not even they have tried before.

They also talk about the life of St. Agnes and then take a look at some fascinating traditions that happen in Rome each year around the feast of St. Agnes.

Mike and Alexandra discuss St. Antony in the Desert, Antony vs. Anthony. They issue a mea culpa on a recipe from the Drinking with the Saints book and offer a revised version. They also talk about two bonus drinks for St. Antony, including a recipe if you are keeping January dry.

Some tidbits about St. Antony include his influence on monasticism, his association with pigs, and how his story influenced the conversion of St. Augustine.

Mike and Alexandra discuss the topsy-turvy traditions of the 12 Days of Christmas and the surprising way that they keep some of these traditions alive today.

Mike and Alexandra celebrate New Years Eve by taking a look at some of the interesting New Years traditions around the world. They even include a bonus drink for you to entertain your New Years guests with, and it involves fire.

Mike and Alexandra celebrate Christmas Eve by examining the origins of some of our most popular Christmas traditions. They discuss mistletoe, Christmas trees, and holly before turning their attention to the surprising origins of some beloved Christmas songs.

Finally, they announce the winner of the naming contest for fans of Drinking with the Saints.

Mike and Alexandra examine the “O Antiphons” and the golden nights.

They also announce the finalists for the naming contest for fans of Drinking with the Saints. Go vote in the poll at drinkingwiththesaints.com

Finally, they dig into some Christmastime trivia from Mike’s newest book, “Why We Kiss Under the Mistletoe” including their family’s connection to the origins of Silent Night, the strange Christmas traditions of Iceland, and the dark side of Christmas with goblins, elves, werewolves, and more.

Mike and Alexandra talk about what the Immaculate Conception is, what it is not, and why it was defined in 1854 of all times. Also discussed: Why St. Joachim must have been a great kisser. They enjoy one of their favorite cocktails: the White Lady, and talk about its variations.

Mike and Alexandra make some Glühwein and kick off the Advent season with discussion of its origins and the tension of somberness and joy within Advent. They talk about Advent customs such as advent wreaths, Advent calendars, Nativity scenes, and, of course, goblins.

Mike and Alexandra examine all things bourbon with a trivia throwdown. What makes a liquor a bourbon? Why is Kentucky an ideal place to make bourbon? What are the angels’ share and the devil’s cut of bourbon? They end with some trivia on the origins of Thanksgiving in the United States.

Mike and Alexandra discuss St. Elizabeth of Hungary and her bittersweet life. Using inspiration from her story, they construct a new cocktail in her honor named the “Leper in My Bed.”

Other topics include what to look for in good grenadine, and what is Chambord?

Mike and Alexandra talk about St. Martin of Tours and some interesting stories, including how he was betrayed by a flock of geese. Did you know the words “chapel” and “chaplain” derive from his legacy? They also discuss the king of cocktails, the Martini, how to make it well, and several of its variations.

Mike and Alexandra talk about St. Hubert, how he became the patron saint of hunters, and some of the strange traditions and strong liqueurs connected to him. They even offer a way to win a signed copy of the Drinking with the Saints book!

Mike and Alexandra talk about St. Jude and the surprising origins of his devotion, the well-known hospital named after him, and his also-overlooked companion St. Simon. They also mix a cocktail with a very unusual list of ingredients.

Mike and Alexandra talk about two and a half saints. They talk about St. John Paul II, some of the many records he broke, why he does not have a cocktail assigned in the Drinking with the Saints book, and what it was like to meet him.