December 24
Ceremony of the Yule Candle in the Yorkshire Dales:12 candles were lit on Xmas Eve & the household would hold them alight for 10 minutes. Then all but one were blown out, the remaining candle was left to light the cutting of the cheese. All the family were given a piece of Christmas cheese & a Yule Cake (a fruited spiced drop cake, like a rock cake) The candle was alight for the rest of the night. #Folklore #FoodFolklore #Foodways #FestiveFoodFolklore #FestiveFolklore @folklore

December 23
Iceland has so many wonderful Christmas traditions however some people are less fond of one of their more famous ones. Fermented skate is traditionally eaten on 23 December also known as ‘Þorláksmessa.’ On this day the shops stay open later and it is a tradition to share this delicacy with family & friends. It is definitely an acquired taste but is one that very good for clearing the sinuses.
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December 22
During the Middle Ages, rosemary was spread on the floor at Christmas because it repelled evil spirits. The scent drifted through the home and It was said that anyone breathing the fragrance on Christmas Eve would receive happiness during the coming year. I would love if this could happen in my home but I feel modern practicalities might reduce my enjoyment & the cat would eat too much of it.
#Folklore #FoodFolklore #FestiveFoodFolklore #FestiveFoodways #FestiveFolklore @folklore

December 20
St. Thomas Eve was once one of a number of nights for divination. A popular ritual was to peel a “St. Thomas Onion”, stick it with 9 pins & put it under your pillow, hoping that you would dream that night of your future husband. A more determined form of the ritual was to cut the onion into four, whispering over the segments the name of the one you hoped/expected to propose. #Folklore #FoodFolklore #Foodways #FestiveFoodFolklore #FestiveFoodways #FestiveFolklore @folklore

December 18
Juniper is wonderful & not just because of gin: the branches offer protection & at midwinter, if you dream of picking the berries, there’ll be prosperity ahead. People once offered bread to the tree to encourage the tree spirit to heal small children.
At one time people would also pick an apple at harvest & save it to eat at the midwinter solstice to bring health.
#Folklore #FoodFolklore #Foodways #FestiveFoodFolklore #FestiveFoodways #FestiveFolklore @folklore

December 17
The beings known as the Nisse in Norway & Denmark, Tomte in Swedish & Tontuu in Finnish were small, powerful creatures. They were quite scary & did not like to be slighted/teased. They were rewarded for their service to the farm at Christmas with special rice porridge & beer. Eventually there was less need for a guardian spirit for the farm, so they became friendlier & took over some nicer Christmas functions.
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🎨 Lennart Helje

December 16
Fish is important in many European Christmas meals including the Italian Feast of the 7 Fishes & the Carp tradition in the Czech Republic. Carp was purchased to eat for the Christmas Eve meal & scales of the fish were placed under plates on that evening to ensure health & prosperity. It was also said that if you carried a scale from the Carp eaten at Christmas in your pocket, you would have a year’s good fortune
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December 15
The Ceremony of the Christmas Cheeses is celebrated by Chelsea Pensioners annually by cutting a large cheese in honour of a cheesemaker who supplied cheese to feed the war veterans over the 1692 festive period. Cheese has been donated every year since by cheese companies all over the UK.
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📷 Royal Hospital Chelsea

December 14
Wassailing takes place around Christmas time in the apple producing counties: for a good harvest, cake soaked in cider is put at the foot of a tree & cider is poured round. Toasts are made to the tree & shotguns fired. This is intended to drive away evil spirits & wake the spirit of the tree into life for a new year.
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🎨 Henry Vizetelly‘s Christmas with the Poets