History of the Society

Dionysus

The god of fruitfulness and vegetation, especially of the vine, and therefore the god of wine was also the promoter of civilization and a lover of peace.

Hence, all Dionysians make a toast to civilization.

Dionysus was a foreign god who originally and probably came from Thrace where he was worshiped with ecstatic rites. In Asia Minor, he was seen as the god who freed you from harmful Magic and was worshiped with hymns called the dithyramb. Greek wine lovers also worshiped him with the great dramatic contests at Athens. The tragedy and comedy was always held in March.

Hence, our annual Dionysian symposium. Remember, "symposium" really means "drinking together."

The worshipers or attendants were known as bacchantes because Dionysus held the title of Bacchus and the bacchi were the males (bacchae) and the females (maenads) who met to enjoy the drama, the food and the wines which were shared by all.

Hence, once you attend on Dionysian society March Festival, you are forever a bacchi, be it bacchae or maenad and Dionysians who perform the rite of their Tastevin tasting become Tastevin Members with nomination and voting rights.

The fifth century B.C. was the Golden Age of Greek drama and the worship of Dionysus, but the wine loving society goes back to 998 B.C. and during the seventeenth century A.D. the Dionysians once again joined briefly in 1508 in Europe to expand the knowledge and enjoyment of one of God's great gifts, wine. Lastly, in 1978, two American wine lovers, John J. Mahoney and Philip Mazzoni reorganized the American chapter of the Dionysian Society International.