A holiday tradition at my house, I enjoy them any time of year. Cranberry Canes are basically a stuffed yeast bread roll up, like a Cinnamon Roll. It’s the presentation of twisting the prepared strips and putting a crook at one end that gives them their distinctive appearance. There are 3 basic elements- Dough: Scald …
Tag: Yule
Dec 22 2015
What’s Cooking: Thoroughly Modern Meatless Mince Pie
Mince pie is a old holiday tradition that can be traced back to 13th century when European crusaders returned from the Middle East with recipes for meats, fruits and spices. Mincing was a way of preserving meats without salting or smoking. The pie has been served at royal tables and, at one time, was banned …
Dec 21 2015
Welcome Winter Solstice Night
Pagans call the Winter Solstice Midwinter, so it is, as it marks the brief moment in time the sun pauses, turning back towards the equator. The days begin to lengthen and it is three months it will be Spring. So tonight light a fire, even if its just a candle, go out side and look …
Dec 21 2015
How Santa Got On The No-Fly List
An overly paranoid elf ruins Christmas for American children.
Dec 20 2015
What’s Cooking: Sugarplum Bread
Republished from 12/11/2011 from the What’s Cooking Archives at The Stars Hollow Gazette In Autumn, the appearance in grocery stores of stacks of candied fruit and mountains of nuts in all their wonderful variety is a sure sign of the approach of the holidays. As the days grow short and the nights grow cool preparations …
Dec 22 2014
What’s Cooking: Crème Brûlée French Toast
Here’s something special for Christmas morning breakfast or brunch, Crème Brûlée French Toast, that can be prepared the night before and tossed in the oven with a pan of bacon at the same time.
Dec 21 2014
Because We Need A Little Christmas
Too much bad news, so here are some of the best Christmas Light Shows brought to you by some ambitious folks with huge electric bills and lots of time on their hands. With a h/t to Suzie Madrak who posted the the Star Wars light show at Crooks and Liars that led me to the others. And in case you can afford the electric bill and have the ambition and too much time on your hands, here is the link the video, How to Make Christmas Lights Flash to Music.
Post your favorite holiday music. Merry Yule, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Festivus and Merry Christmas, too all.
Amazing and Hiliarious Best Christmas Light Show 2014 – Can Can (Straight No Chaser)
Carol of the Bells – Best Christmas Light Show! WATCH END! Sarajevo – Trans-Siberian Orchestra)
Dec 21 2014
Winter Solstice 2014: Here Comes the Sun
The shortest day, the longest night, for those of us who reside in the Northern climes Winter Solstice is here. The sun reaches is most Southern destiny and touches for but a moment, the Tropic of Capricorn and immediately reverses her course. That moment will occur on Dec. 21 at 6:03 p.m. EST.
The Winter Solstice is a special night for those who practice the craft and has a rich history from many cultures. In old Europe, it was known as Yule, from the Norse, Jul, meaning wheel. It is one of the eight holidays, or Sabbats, that are held sacred by Wiccans and Pagans around the world. In Celtic traditions it is the battle between the young Oak King and the Holly King:
the Oak King and the Holly King are seen as dual aspects of the Horned God. Each of these twin aspects rules for half the year, battles for the favor of the Goddess, and then retires to nurse his wounds for the next six months, until it is time for him to reign once more.
Often, these two entities are portrayed in familiar ways – the Holly King frequently appears as a woodsy version of Santa Claus. He dresses in red, wears a sprig of holly in his tangled hair, and is sometimes depicted driving a team of eight stags. The Oak King is portrayed as a fertility god, and occasionally appears as the Green Man or other lord of the forest.
The re-enactment of the battle is popular in some Wiccan rituals.
As we prepare for the longest night, we decorate our homes with red, green and white, holly, ivy, evergreen and pine cones. We honor the solar year with light. We place candles in the windows facing the North, South, East and West to ward off the darkness and celebrate the return of the sun/ With the setting sun, fires are lit in hearths and fire pits and kept burning to keep us warm until Sol returns at dawn.
There is food a plenty, roasts and stews and winter vegetables and sweets, chocolate and peppermint candy, apples and oranges and sweet breads. All these reminding us of the last harvest, the gifts of Gaia, Mother Earth and the hunts by Hern of the Wild Hunt. Of course there will be honeyed and spiced wine and hearty, dark beers, some made by friends who will join the festivities.
What ever your beliefs, or none, may the traditions and celebrations bring you peace and joy. Blessed Be. The Wheel Turns.
Recent Comments