Nobody's quite sure about the origins of the "Beanfeast". Some say it came from old Twelfth Night celebrations, when a cake or pie was baked with a 'bean' in it. Whoever got the portiuon with the bean was proclaimed King for the Day. Here is a painting from around 1640 by Jacob Jordaens, the Flemish artist, called "The Bean King"
In 1773, King George III visited the Woolwich Works [ the Arsenal] where beans and bacon were being served to everyone. He enjoyed himself so much that he declared July 7th to be the official Beanfeast Holiday. Many businesses continued this tradition for years - there was even mention of "George IIIs Beanfeast" in Hansard in1930.
BEANFEAST
Today, 251 years later, they are celebrating the first Modern Beanfeast. at the Woolwich Works.
I'm all in favour of beanfeasts, where friends and families enjoy food and fun together. Last Sunday's church lunch was great! And as we're supposed to be eating less meat these days, protein from beans/legumes is a Good Thing. I've harvested some broad beans from the Raised Bed this week, and the runner beans are growing steadily up their pyramid support.
My favourite bean dishes; fresh green beans, steamed, with a pat of butter served as a side dish, butter beans in salads or tapas dishes, kidney beans in a chili con carne, and good old beans-on-toast. Do you enjoy beans?
The Bean Book by Rose Elliott has been part of my life since the 1970s.
ReplyDeleteLove Aduki beans best of all, but not easy to find (Sainsbury’s used to sell them)
I must look for that in the library
DeleteI like beans of many kinds and often put them into Quinn mince or into a cold rice salad. If I need a quick and comforting lunch then only Branston beans on toast will do! Happy weekend -we are completing the emptying of the loft this morning as the weather is variable to say the least. Catriona
ReplyDeleteI like beans in a salad too
DeleteYes we love beans in this household. I love young tender broad beans, husband and I both really enjoy runner beans and we eat lots of kidney and other canned/dried beans. We have at least 4 meatless main meals a week and often use beans as protein. Our favourite is 5 bean chilli. I didn"t know the origins of "beanfeast" but now thanks to you I do. Regards Sue H
ReplyDelete4 meatless days is even more than the King (who has 2 per week, I understand) Perhaps we should call HIM Charles the Bean King
DeleteLove beans of any description but my diverticulitis hates them!! Miss beans on toast so much!
ReplyDeleteThey do cause digestive problems don't they...
DeleteInteresting facts about bean feasts.
ReplyDeleteI eat any kind of beans with caution, although I'm fond of them, it's a bit like the weather forecast - windy conditions expected 😉
Alison in Wales x
There was a rhyme in the playground at school which began "eat beans, they're good for your heart...." 😉
DeleteLove beans and lentils. So many are grown by our Canadian farmers. This is a great resource for recipes. https://www.lovecanadianbeans.ca/recipes Enjoy! Barb
ReplyDeleteThank you for the link, Barb
DeleteI love beans and pulses, but my husband is more of a meat eater!
ReplyDeleteSometimes mine pokes around in his bean casserole and asks wistfully "Is there any meat in here?”!
DeleteI love beans! Yesterday I made a delicious side salad of garbanzo beans with chopped cucumber and mushrooms, served with blue cheese dressing and extra blue cheese sprinkled on top! JanF
ReplyDeleteIn the UK we call garbanzo beans "chick peas".
DeleteSuch interesting history. Sorta of odd that on 4th of July I craved and fixed the old Kentucky comfort food (pinto) beans and cornbread (w/ mashed tators). Not a traditional 4th meal. Looks like my European heritage overtook the day?
ReplyDeleteYou are not obliged to have a trad meal. I love mash
DeleteLove beans!
ReplyDeleteBlack beans for soup or chili, yellow or green split pea for soup, small white beans for minestrone, pinto beans for Mexican food, chick peas for hummus or marinated in your favourite vinaigrette, and red or brown lentils for SO many things! ~ skye
And green lentils too(strictly they are a pulse, not a legume, but who cares, they are tasty)
DeleteAnnouncing "Beans on toast" brings an expression of joy to DH, so we have them at least twice a month. I use some of the other varieties in soups or other dishes. As for rhymes, I heard one that goes "Beans, beans the musical fruit, the more you eat, the more you toot!"
ReplyDeleteThe USA rhymeis different, but the same suggestion!
DeleteI haven't heard of the Beanfeast, but, I do like various kinds of beans.
ReplyDeleteI think it is historically a NorthEuropean thing
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