Yule: Rituals, Recipes & Lore for the Winter Solstice (Llewellyn's Sabbat Essentials) by Susan Pesznecker

Author:Susan Pesznecker [Pesznecker, Susan]
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Publisher: Llewellyn Worldwide, LTD.
Published: 2015-10-08T05:00:00+00:00

[contents]

Whether you celebrate Yule, Christmas, Chanukah, or any of the many other winter holidays, recipes, decorations, and crafts are an important part of the event for most of us. Some of this goes back to the Pagan symbolism of the Winter Solstice and the use of lights, greenery, berries, wreaths, etc. Much of it is related to our desire to kindle warmth and light in the midst of winter. A lot of it, too, ties in with our desire to be with friends and family at a time of the year culturally linked with high celebration. And, of course, cooking, crafting, and decorating are an inexpensive and satisfying way to personalize the season—and they’re just plain fun. In this chapter, we’ll offer simple ideas for cooking and crafting your own holiday season.

Recipes to Enjoy at Home

The solstice has always been a time of joyful feasting in celebration of the return of light and life. When faced with the shortest day and longest night of the year, the ancients worried that sunlight would not return to nourish the land and banish the cold. It was this apprehension that led to the phrase “Eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow may never come.” We still feel the same apprehension these days when, deep into winter, we’re sure spring will never arrive. Feasting celebrates the return of bounty and focuses on celebration and gathering family together—and it can take on a decidedly magickal feel as well.

Many cultures have their own specific food traditions. For instance, in Sweden, an almond is stirred into the julegrot (Christmas pudding) and whoever finds the almond in their portion will have good luck throughout the coming year. When an English plum pudding is prepared, it’s customary to have every family member take a turn with the stirring. Also in England, the traditional “bringing in the boar” may be reflected by a sturdy roast instead of entire suckling pig, but a roast—particularly a prime rib, crown roast of pork, or a roast turkey or goose—is still the centerpiece of many holiday tables.

There are many ways to add magick to your winter feast. Follow the custom of having every family member lend a hand in the “stirring,” metaphorically speaking, mimicking the way each member of the community helps ensure the tribe’s survival. Set a table with holiday colors and with your best dishes, goblets, and cutlery, and light plenty of candles. For a really special effect, have everyone gather at the table in a dark or semi-dark dining room. Recite a poem or blessing and light the candles, one by one, watching as everyone’s faces are cast into the light. Offer toasts to family, departed ancestors, and guardian deities.

Sandy’s Sugar Cookies

A wonderful, buttery, shortbread sugar cookie; the recipe makes 6–7 dozen cookies.

Ingredients:

1 cup sugar

1 cup powdered sugar

1 cup unsalted butter (not margarine!), softened

1 cup vegetable oil (not olive oil!)

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon cream of tartar

4 ¾ cups all-purpose flour

Additional white sugar, for flattening;

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.