The Bean King is Drinking 1625 - 1668

Jan Miense Molenaer captured this scene of revelry on canvas, a tradition known as “The Bean King,” celebrating the Feast of the Epiphany. The central figure, reclined in a chair, holds his glass aloft—he is the chosen king, selected by the bean baked into the cake. This motif of selecting a "king" through chance echoes ancient traditions, such as the Roman Saturnalia, where roles were inverted and a mock king was chosen. It's a tradition born in the pre-Christian winter festivals, when the natural world appeared to be dead, mirroring similar inversion rituals across various cultures. The temporary selection of a "lord of misrule" was a cathartic experience for communities. The act of communal feasting and role reversal hints at the deep psychological need to temporarily escape social norms. The bean king, like the lords of misrule, allows a release of subconscious desires, a brief suspension of order before returning to everyday life. The enduring appeal of the bean king through shifting epochs lies in this potent blend of tradition and psychological release.