I admit that I smile nearly every time I hear one of the stupid Anheuser Busch “Here’s to you, Mr. (insert occupation) guy”, but, seriously... Rodenbach had the courage to take the martyrdom of St. Sebastian, spin it with a smiling, trendy-looking, guy pinned to a tree by arrows, and put a Rodenbach in his hand.
Another nod of the head to Euro fairytales, martyrdom and mythology. The daughter of Herodias was fabled to have asked Herod for the head of John the Baptists on a platter.
The term figurehead, or masthead, originated from the carvings at the prow of ships of the 16th to 19th centuries. In Germany, Belgium, and Holland, it was once believed that spirits/faeries called Klaboutermannikins (water mannikins) dwelt in the figureheads. The spirit guarded the ship from sickness, rocks, storms, and dangerous winds. If the ship sank, the Klaboutermannikin guided the sailors' souls to the Land of the Dead. To sink without a Klaboutermannikin condemned the sailor's soul to haunt the sea forever, so Dutch sailors believed.
and of course, we all know Joan of Ark.
Creative, intelligent, tastefully done advertising. Thank you, Rodenbach, as if your beer wasn't good enough.
Posts
