Holiday Traditions 101

Holiday Traditions 101

I have always been fascinated by all of the Christmas traditions. As a child the one tradition we had was that of erecting our silver metal tree with the beautiful color wheel, it’s red, it’s green it’s yellow; and round and round it would go. My only exposure to the Yule or the mistletoe or green and red was at school or a friend’s house. As a child I always wondered what a Yule log has to do with the birth of Jesus.

“The Yule”

The Yule log is the most universal of all Christmas symbols; it's origin is an ancient tradition that began in northern Europe at the time of the winter solstice, which has always been December 25th. These festivals were dedicated to the two most prominent gods; Mithra, the Persian sun god, and god of death, and Odin, or (Jolnir, the name eventually evolved to Yule), the Scandinavian god of intoxicating drinks, ecstasy and death. To all Europeans what had began as an ancient bonfire where a log would be cut, decorated with flowers, colored silks and gold, and then doused with wine and grain. It was then taken back to the center of town while songs were sung and people would drink wine and feast. It was believed the flame chased off demons and brought beneficial magic, so they would keep the log burning for 12 hours to 12 days, hence the origin of the 12 days of Christmas and the 12th night.

The ashes that remained from the sacred Yule log were scattered over fields to bring fertility, or poured down wells to sweeten the water. The ashes were also used in charms for protection from witches, to protect livestock or to ward off hailstorms and lightning.

Some sources believe that the Yule is associated with an ancient Scandinavian fertility god and that the log is a phallic symbol. The log was required to burn for 12 days with a different sacrifice to this god each of the twelve days. The 12 days of Christmas or Yule actually begins on December 24th the day the log is found and ceremoniously drug back to the town fire pit; then ends on January 5th, or 6th depending on which ancient tribes calendar you happen to have.

In honor of Odin my recipe this week is “Glug” an old spiced wine recipe featuring cloves.

Like the other oriental spices, cloves were a caravan import. The Chinese called this the chicken-tongue spice. People were reguired to chew a whole clove to freshen their breath before approaching the emperor. It was called this as it numbed the tongue.

Cloves are originally from a tiny island named Amboina, the natives revered this evergreen tree and ceremoniously planted a tree at the birth of a child. It was believed the tree protected this child and if calamity befell the tree the child would also suffer the same. In 1505 the Dutch and Portuguese upon discovering this island “conquered” it, burning the original trees, replanting their own groves devastating and murdering the natives and claiming the island for their queens. The clove trade was strictly and brutally controlled and in Zanzibar as recently as 1972, there was still a law on the books calling for the death penalty for smuggling cloves.

All told some 60,000 natives were slaughtered in the name of trade. It was strictly forbidden for anyone to leave this island carrying a clove. Over the next few centuries, the islands in the Indian Ocean east of Africa gradually became the leading producers of cloves.

The main chemical in cloves-eugenol-has several properties. It is a mild local anesthetic.

It is a rubefacient, causes the blood vessels near the surface of the skin to dilate causing a warm sensation, and is a carminative, breaks up intestinal gas.

Women in ancient times brewed a fermented drink from the immature buds said to heal a broken heart. Cloves were included in love potions; the clove shape suggested this to be especially powerful for men.

Some believed if they stuffed cloves up their nose evil spirits could not get into their brains. In Germany a physician suggested that patients with cold feet should sprinkle cloves on their heads, this should warm their entire body. Strange belief aside recent studies have proven clove to enhance sugar metabolism. Recent studies in aromatherapy are proving the clove to be affective in the relief of stress, sleeplessness, and even smoking.

Cloves are great in bread, pies, cakes, and for today’s recipe, Mulled wine or as Rick’s Dad called it; Glug.

Glug

This is a very old recipe from merry old England.

In a crock pot....

1 Bottle Burgundy

1 TBS. Whole cloves

4 Cinnamon sticks

2 Sliced oranges

2 slicedLemons

1 cup sugar

2 cups water

In a sauce pan on the stove boil the water, sugar, cinnamon and cloves for five minutes. Then add the lemons and oranges and pour in pre-heated crock-pot. Add wine and simmer. Serve hot!

Arrrrrrrgggggg!

Crystal Hayes can be reached at Crystalhayes@peak.org