Barrelanza n, baral-anza: A semi-religious festival held just prior to Christmas where those with big mouths repay bets lost during the year by providing beer to adoring friends.
Barrelanza has it’s heritage dating back almost 2000 years when St Peter bet Jesus some loaves of bread and fish (and a goblet of Nazareth Draught) that he could not rise from the dead. Down and out on the Friday, St Peter looked home and hosed until Jesus’ superb turn-around on the Sunday. It cost St Peter, Barrelanza was born and the rest is history. Barrelanza has been through a number of transformations over the years with the Romans helping spread the festival throughout the known world. During the medieval times losers had to provide beer and bread for the riotous crowds before being hung-drawn and quartered. Similarly during the French Revolution, losers were required to provide a feast of fromage, champagne and croissants before having their heads removed at pace by the guillotine. It was said that the Barrelanza festivities made it to Australia 200 years ago when Patrick Fitzgerald bet his mate Gerald Fitzpatrick he could not steal a loaf of bread. Both Fitzgerald and Fitzpatrick got caught and each were sentenced to supply to Old Bailey magistrate with a flagon of rum before being transported to Botany Bay.
