By Vanick DerBedrossian (From Issue 7)

Several weeks ago I was invited to join my father and uncle on a trip to visit my great-uncle’s grave. I was feeling a tad anxious and excited about taking part in this ceremony. Yes, I had finally gained admittance to the Big Boy’s Club. You know, like when you broke into your parents liquor cabinet for the first time.

Anyway, I am digressing.

We arrived at Amo’s grave and stood there in the light drizzle, letting ourselves wander in the moment and in our thoughts. In these instances the mind goes blank and one is left empty, pure essence. After a few words of remembrance we got down to business. One uncle lit up some frankincense and the other pulled out a deep-blue bottle of Lebanese arak, a spirit made of grapes and anis seed – my great-uncle’s favorite –which turns milky white when mixed with ice and water. He loved drinking a tall glass of the stuff in the mornings. When guests commented on his odd drinking habits he would shrug and say it was just milk.

So, bowing to tradition, we drank. We commemorated Amo’s spirit, taking sips of the pungent substance and recalling fond memories of his unique life. Every time we filled our cups with arak we would naturally pour a healthy swirl of the delicious liquid into the ground over his grave. We included him in our gathering. Pouring libation came totally naturally to me. I had never taken part in such a thing, yet I felt intuitively compelled to point the bottle south – an act of sacrilege in about any other circumstance – and send him my prayers. It just felt like the right thing to do…

Libation comes from the Latin word “libare,” meaning “to pour as an offering.” Alcohol is poured into the ground as a gesture of communion and respect to ancestors, god(s), and spirits. This tradition has been around from the ancient Greek times to modern day America, throughout most religions and just about all parts of the world. It is performed at Shinto home altars in Japan, at graves of passed relatives all over Eastern Europe, in Cuba’s colorful cafés, and at many African-American wedding ceremonies.

Greek-style libation is often performed with olive oil. Greek mythology credits Athena (Zeus’ daughter) with the act of planting the first olive tree as a gift to mankind. In return, Greeks often perform libation using olive oil as a way to commemorate her contribution and give thanks. If you are trying Greek libation at home, watch your step!

In West African traditions, libation is performed to “awaken” ancestors and directly communicate with them to give thanks and ask for guidance. In Nigeria and Ghana, schnapps is the preferred alcohol for libation ceremonies. The various schnapps distillers have been competing for increased sales, paying top dollar for exclusivity ads during festivals where libation takes place. A Nigerian company called Seaman’s Schnapps brands itself as “The Number One Prayer Drink,” claiming that its product “delivers blessings” with more clarity to ancestors than any other brand.

Notice how similar the Latin root “libare” is to the word “liberate.” Libation allows us to transcend our ordinary life and connect with our ancestors and spirits that are beyond ordinary reach. Similarly, drinking in bars “liberates” individuals from their inhibitions and makes it easier for singles to connect (everyone looks hotter, you are more daring and flirtatious, etc.). Pouring libation destabilizes individuals from ordinary life and allows for the release of pent-up emotions surrounding the past. Symbolically and physically, alcoholic drinks contain elements of both life and death. Life in the form of organic matter from fruits, hops or starches, and death in the form of pure alcohol. While alcohol is a mixture of both worlds, libation is the vehicle that allows the realm of the living and the world of the dead to connect.