Sacred Plants of the Winter Solstice

Sacred plants of the Winter Solstice


Holly

Symbolizing: Old Solar Year; Waning Sun; Protection; Good Luck
Forms: boughs over portals, wreaths
Divinities: Holly King; Old Nick; Saturn; Bacchus; Wood Spirits; Holly Boys
Traditions: Roman, Celtic, English, Christian


Mistletoe

Symbolizing: Peace, Prosperity, Healing, Wellness, Fertility, Rest, Protection
Forms: boughs, amulet sprigs above doorways, kissing balls
Divinities: Oak Spirit; Frigga and Balder
Traditions: Celtic, Teutonic


Ivy

Symbolizing: Fidelity, Protection, Healing, Marriage, Victory, Honor, Good Luck
Forms: crowns, wreaths, garlands
Divinities: Dionysius; Bacchus; Great Goddess; Ivy Girls
Traditions: Greek, Roman, English, Christian


Frankincense

Symbolizing: Sun, Purification, Consecration, Protection, Spiritual Illumination
Forms: incense, oils
Divinities: Sun Gods, Ra at Dawn, Bel
Traditions: Babalyonian, Assyrian, Egyptian, Jewish, Greek, Roman, Christian


Myrrh

Symbolizing: Healing, Death and Afterlife, Purification, Inner Peace
Forms: incense, oils
Divinities: Isis, Ra at Midday
Traditions: Egyptian, Jewish, Christian


Wheat

Symbolizing: Sustenance, Abundance, Fertility, Good Luck
Forms: grain, straw figures and symbols, cookies, cakes, breads
Divinities: Earth Goddesses; Saturn & Ops; Goat Spirit; Fairy Folk
Traditions: Roman, Celtic, Scots, Teutonic, Swedish, Christian

Sweet Potato & Apple Bake

INGREDIENTS:
1 large (1/4 lb) sweet potato
3 medium Golden Delicious apples
1 teaspoons lemon juice
1 large leek
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter or margarine, softened
1/4 teaspoon Salt
1/8 teaspoon ground pepper
1/4 cups apple juice
2 tablespoons unseasoned bread crumbs
1 tablespoon brown sugar

DIRECTIONS:
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Peel and thinly slice sweet potato.
Peel, core, and cut apples into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Place
apples in bowl and add water to cover; add lemon Juice. Trim
off top of leek 1 inch above white; discard top and root end.
Cut leek lengthwise in half and clean well under running cold
water. Thlnly slice leek crosswise. Drain apples well; pat
dry. Grease 1 1/2-quart casserole with 1 table- spoon butter.

Place one third of apples in bottom of casserole; top with
one third of leek slices and one third of sweet potato.
Season with salt and pepper. Repeat to make 2 more layers.
Dot top of casserole with 2 tablespoons butter; pour apple
juice over all. Cover tightly with lid or aluminum foil and
bake 45 minutes. Meanwhile, to make topping, in small sauce-
pan, melt remaining 1 tablespoon butter; stir in bread
crumbs and brown sugar until well combined. Uncover casserole
and sprinkle with topping. Bake uncovered 10 to 15 minutes
longer or until potato slices are tender. Serve immediately.

Yield: 6 Servings

~Source Unknown~

Posset

Posset

2 slices stale bread
Salt
Grated nutmeg
1 dessertspoon castor sugar
1 pint (500ml) milk
1 tablespoon brandy or a measure of ale
Trim off and discard the crusts of the bread and cut the slices into small pieces. Place in a bowl and add a pinch of salt, a pinch of nutmeg and the sugar. Heat the milk (do not boil) and pour over the bread. Cover and leave for 15 minutes. Add the brandy or ale and mix thoroughly.

~Unknown Source~

Lamb's Wool

Lambs Wool

4 pints (2 litres) ale
2 pints (1 litre) white wine
1 grated nutmeg
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon demerara sugar
Roasted crab apples
Heat ale and wine together. When hot add the spices and the sugar. Allow the sugar to dissolve and serve in a deep bowl and float the roasted apples on top.


~Unknown Source~