December 18, 2010
We all know what happens under the Mistletoe (Don’t We?)
I’m sure after reading this, the mistletoe for you will never be quite the same again.
The history of Mistletoe sheds light on the role and significance of the evergreen mistletoe in Christmas festivities. It was believed in the ancient times, that the mistletoe tree could propagate from bird droppings. The Anglo-Saxon meaning of the name is dung on a twig
Mistletoe was believed to have magical powers of healing. The tree was sacred to the ancient Celtic Druids. The cutting of the mistletoe from the oak (mistletoes are parasites,) though they can grow on their own, signified the emasculation of the old King by his successor. Having the mistletoe decorated in the Christmas season, originated from the pagan customs. The famous axiom “kissing under the mistletoe” has its origin in the Norse mythology and Celtic rituals.
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December 16, 2010
What smells more like Christmas than gingerbread men baking in the oven?
The answer- Not much, turkey and stuffing are hard to beat, but gingerbread enjoys pride of place in some households.
Gingerbread dates back date back to “ancient times”, whatever that means, but it is generally believed that in the in the 11th century, Crusaders returning to Europe from the Middle East brought a new spice, ginger, with them.
The use of spice called “Ginger” now has widespread use for dealing with indigestion, stomach aches and an aid to digestion generally. It is readily available and recommended for travel sickness and features in many popular cuisines, maybe the best known being Asian food and they have probably been using it for even longer.
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IN THIS ARTICLE
A wonderful insight into the history of gingerbread.
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