Summer Solstice 2011: How it could help the US economy

There are too few holidays-cum-excuses to get hammered in mainstream American society- a lesson we are learning from the Pagans and the Christians this week-in Summer Solstice 2011. The United States' spirits industry could make a killing on another St. Patty's day with pantheistic origins.

Thousands of neo-Pagans descended on Stonehenge in a night-long celebration of Summer Solstice yesterday.

The 18,000 merrymakers sang and chanted incantations way past the wee small hours of the morning, in the fashion of their Celtic forefathers, according to The Daily Mail.

Many partook of pre-Christian libations. Yes, the drink or booze, as it were, was a big part of Pagan rituals in the days of yore.

Down South in the sunny Mediterranean, Barcelonans plan to celebrate St. Joan, the festival of St. John the Baptist, on Thursday night, which for them, also marks the beginning of summer.

On the eve of St. Joan's day, the Catalonians throw Revetlles, parties to celebrate the darkness from sunset on the 23rd to sunrise on the 24th June.

But beware anti-Harry Potter Christians, the St. Joan holiday has its roots in paganism!

Catalonian folklore holds that around this time, you can find witches and other mystical creatures gathered around bonfires in the woods.

For Christian and pre-Christian Catalonians alike, they will all partake of a little Catalonian Cava-their version of champagne-to celebrate this holiday.

The United States' liquor industry would be well-advised to capitalize on this holiday, especially given the state of the economy.