FairytalesFood

FairytalesFood, 6 months ago to folklorethursday

Festive Food Folklore - Day 20

On St Thomas’s Eve in Austria, unmarried ladies would slice an apple in two to foresee their wedding. If there was an even number of pips, she would marry soon, an odd number meant a wait, if she’d cut through one of the pips she would have a more troubled life and end up a widow.

#Folklore #Festive #Food @folklore @folklorethursday

FairytalesFood, 6 months ago to folklore

I was planning to do this tomorrow but I've got to go to the post office, the Polish deli & Aldi in the morning so I'll start now. Are you planning a special meal to celebrate the Solstice? If so would you like to share your menu? I thought it might be a little light in the darkness, & a little balm to our souls, to bond over delicious food. In case you are interested we are having a dumpling of three nations extravaganza with dips to match. What about you?

#Folklore #Solstice @folklore #Food

FairytalesFood, 6 months ago to folklorethursday

Festive Food Folklore - Day 19

In previous times in the Tyrol, on St. Thomas's Day, an elaborate pie was baked & marked with the sign of the cross & sprinkled with holy water before it was baked. It was not eaten until St. Stephen's Day, when it was cut by the head of the household with considerable ceremony. Each maidservant was also given a pie, to take home to her family. If a lover offered to carry her pie, that was considered a marriage proposal.

#Folklore @folklore @folklorethursday

FairytalesFood, 6 months ago to folklore

Festive Food Folklore - Day 18

Some believe that celebrating with a boar’s head is a holdover from a pagan tradition to honour Freyr, a Norse god of the harvest and fertility who was associated with boars. The Victorians used to make them out of cake which wasn’t quite the same.
The long and complicated recipe can be found in Charles Elmé Francatelli's The Royal English and Foreign Confectionery Book. (London: 1862), together with a fabulous picture of the finished result

#Folklore @folklore

FairytalesFood, 6 months ago to folklorethursday

Festive Food Folklore - Day 18

It was believed that the weather for the 21st December to 21st March, could be foretold from the breast-bone of a Christmas goose. The more discolouration present when the bone has been revealed after cooking indicates an in increase in storms & bad weather in those months.

@folklore #Folklore #festive @folklorethursday

FairytalesFood, 6 months ago to folklore

Festive Food Folklore - Day 16

Christmas Eve is another big marriage divination date: you can make a dough-cake in silence, place it on the hearth, & prick your initials on the surface. At midnight, your future spouse will enter the room, go to the hearth, & prick their initials beside yours. You can also conjure the image of your future spouse by picking 12 sage leaves in the garden at midnight of Christmas Eve. Presumably also useful for the stuffing later in the day.

@folklore #Folklore

FairytalesFood, 6 months ago to folklore

Festive Food Folklore - Day 15

The kallikantzaros were either vampire or werewolf. They were red-eyed, covered in black hair, with a long tongue & club-feet & were said to climb down the chimney to devour festive foods on the 12 days of Christmas. Solutions ranged from hanging pork based snacks & sweets in the chimney to stop them coming in further, to throwing a honey-soaked doughnut onto the roof to distract them. Throwing salt onto the fire was said to discourage them.
#Folklore @folklore

FairytalesFood, 6 months ago to folklorethursday

Festive Food Folklore - Day 14

At the winter solstice, the Yule bannock was made between noon and six o’clock before being baked over the Cailleach Nollaig (the Scottish Yule log). Its edges were indented to depict the rays of the sun, and each person in the house was expected to turn the bannock sunwise as it cooked to ensure that bad luck would not befall the family. It was also common for divination charms to be dropped into the batter.

@folklore @folklorethursday #Folklore #festive

FairytalesFood, 6 months ago to folklorethursday

Festive Food Folklore - Day 13

This is the day to make or indulge in saffron buns for St Lucia Day as enjoyed in several Scandinavian countries. These buns - (Lussekatter) are supposed to resemble cats tails wrapped around each other. St Lucia is celebrated as a symbol of light in the dark of the year, with processions of girls in white dresses, the leader with a candle headdress.

#Folklore #Festive @folklore @folklorethursday

FairytalesFood, 6 months ago to folklorethursday

Festive Food Folklore - Day 12

Lutzelfrau, a German folkloric figure who could appear at your door and check your household for cleanliness on 13 December. If your house met inspection and the children appeared to be well behaved she would not abduct any children but instead before she went, gave her skirts a shake, letting fall sweets, fruits, and nuts interspersed with turnips and potatoes which may or may not contain coins inside.
#Folklore @folklore @folklorethursday #festive

FairytalesFood, 6 months ago to folklore

Festive Food Folklore - Day 11

In some European Christmas traditions the spirits of ancestors are remembered during the Christmas Eve meal, vacant places are set, a candle/light is kept burning all night, and the leftover food remains on the table overnight for visiting spirits. In the 8thC St Bede also wrote that the early Medieval English left food on tables overnight during the Christmas season so that visiting spirits could partake of the feast.

#Folklore @folklore

FairytalesFood, 6 months ago to folklorethursday

Festive Food Folklore - Day 10

Have you seen a pickle ornament hanging on a Christmas tree? It has amazing circular folklore, originally believed by Americans to be a German tradition to hang the pickle as the last ornament & hidden in the branches. The first child to spot it would have good luck. Apparently few German’s have ever heard this and these are now sold in Germany with the suggestion that this is an American tradition!

@folklore @folklorethursday #Folklore #Festive

FairytalesFood, 6 months ago to folklore

My latest letter is out! If you would like to hear about building festive traditions and rituals with food, the importance of celebrating at midwinter in your own way without detracting from the beliefs of those that celebrate differently, and for those that are not celebrating: a recipe for a completely none festive food which can still lift your spirit on a bad day. Link in bio & completely free to read or even subscribe for your convenience.
https://bit.ly/3GzXdrZ

@folklore #Folklore #Food

FairytalesFood, 6 months ago to folklorethursday

Festive Food Folklore - Day 8

Wassailing- for a good harvest, cake soaked in cider is put at the foot of a tree or pushed into crevices in the branches & 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.

@folklore @folklorethursday #folklore

FairytalesFood, 6 months ago to folklorethursday

Festive Food Folklore - Day 6

As well as being naturally dressed in festive colours, it is believed to bring good luck if you eat an apple on Christmas Eve. Also If you slice an apple in 1/2 on Xmas day and it reveals a star, you will have health & happiness for the year ahead. Some also believe you can use the pips on St Thomas Eve to foretell a wedding.

#Folklore @folklore @folklorethursday #festive

FairytalesFood, 6 months ago to folklore

Festive Food Folklore - Day 5

It used to be considered unlucky to cut either the Christmas cheese or Christmas cake before Christmas Eve. They must then last through the 12 days of Christmas but be eaten by 12th Night. I’m struggling to not eat all the lebkuchen by next weekend.

#folklore @folklore #festive

FairytalesFood, 6 months ago to folklorethursday

Festive Food Folklore - Day 4

During the Middle Ages, rosemary was spread on the floor at Xmas because it repelled evil spirits. The scent drifted through the home and It was said that anyone breathing the fragrance on Xmas Eve would receive happiness during the coming year.

#Folklore @folklore @folklorethursday

FairytalesFood, 6 months ago to folklore

Festive Food Folklore - Day 3

A single girl wanting to know about her marriage prospects could approach the door of the henhouse on Christmas Eve, tap it smartly, and wait. If a hen cackled first, the chances for marriage during the coming year were poor. If a cock crowed, the future was bright and she should take an egg from the henhouse to use to determine his profession.

#Folklore @folklore #FestiveFolklore #Festive

FairytalesFood, 6 months ago to folklore

Festive Food Folklore - Day 2

When eating your first mince pie of the year, you should make a wish. If you eat a mince pie on each of the 12 days of Christmas you will have good luck for the next 12 months. However, to refuse one is considered to be bad luck.

#Folklore @folklore

FairytalesFood, 6 months ago to folklore

I have a fabulous festive surprise for those of you who missed my post this morning! It's a Folklore, Food & Feasting Advent Calendar to take us up to Christmas. It’s loosely linked to the folklore & food facts that I will be posting here daily through December but with some different facts & enriched with added extras like vintage folklore footage & festive short stories. You can open a new window every day for a festive food folklore experience

#Folklore @folklore

https://hestiaskitchen.co.uk/adventcalendar

FairytalesFood, 6 months ago to folklore

Festive Food Folklore - Day 1

This year I also have an advent calendar! It is loosely linked to the folklore & food facts that I will be sending out via social media but enriched with added extras like vintage folklore related footage & festive short stories.

https://bit.ly/3N5O26c

#Folklore @folklore #FestiveFolklore #festive

FairytalesFood, 7 months ago to folklore

Today is St Catherine’s Day, the patron saint of lacemakers. Today marked the first day that they were allowed to use candles to assist them in their work. The feast day was also a holiday for these workers & was celebrated with games, a hot pot (eggnog made from rum, eggs & beer) & Cattern Cakes, spiced with cinnamon, lightly fruited & flavoured with caraway seeds. The dough was originally yeasted. They’re supposedly round to honour the wheel on which the saint was martyred
@folklore #Folklore

FairytalesFood, 7 months ago to folklore

Did you know that today is St Clements Day? He was patron saint of metal workers & blacksmiths. His day was celebrated in industrial areas like South Staffordshire. This celebration took the form of “Clementing - the ancient custom of going about that night to beg drink to make merry with” It was also called bob-apple day from the game which was also played . This is summed up in the traditional chant: "Clemeny, Clemeny, Clemeny mine ! A good red apple and a pint of wine !" @folklore #Folklore

FairytalesFood, 7 months ago to folklore

Halloween Food Special It’s different to normal in that it has food & folklore but no tale. I have indulged myself by creating you an All Hallows Feast including the moon phase, its implication for the date & how I made my menu choices, magical symbolism of the dishes and the folklore behind some of the main ingredients. Even if the symbolism is not your thing, I can promise the dishes were created for flavour and to make use of seasonal ingredients.

#Food @folklore

https://hestiaskitchen.co.uk/2023/10/17/an-all-hallows-feast-menus-symbolism-folklore/

FairytalesFood, 7 months ago to folklore

Slightly Scary Story Special: This is another ‘just the stories’ episode, for All Hallows Eve. There are three traditional tales which are just a little bit scary but also a little bit clever and maybe also just a little bit silly in the case of the last tale. I hope you enjoy these tales even if you prefer yours a bit more bone chilling normally.
https://hestiaskitchen.co.uk/2023/10/24/slightly-scary-story-special/

#Folklore @folklore #storytelling

FairytalesFood, 7 months ago to folklore

A last piece of Food Folklore for your tea break: November 1st is Calan Gaeaf, the first day of winter in Wales. The night before is Nos Galan Gaeaf, a night when spirits are abroad. Stwmp NawRhyw was often served on this night, mash made from potatoes, carrots, turnips, peas, parsnips, leeks, pepper, salt & milk. Legend has it that the 9 essential ingredients would ward off evil spirits, sometimes a lucky wedding ring would be hidden in the mash & the finder would marry within a year
@folklore

FairytalesFood, 7 months ago to folklore

A little Halloween Food Folklore for you Monday tea break: If you place two nuts on a metal plate & place them over a fire on Halloween you can find out how happy your potential marriage will be. If the nuts lie together you are possibly onto a good thing but if they fly apart you may want to consider. A similar superstition suggested you could find your preferred love by naming two hazelnuts & throwing them into the fire. The one that burned the brightest would be the better husband.
@folklore

FairytalesFood, 7 months ago to folklore

A smidge of Halloween Food Folklore for with your Sunday afternoon: Halloween was once considered one of the best times to conduct love rituals. In Derbyshire it was traditional to put a rosemary sprig & a crooked sixpence under your pillow on All Hallows Eve, in order to dream of your future spouse. A creepier Shropshire version was to eat an apple whilst brushing your hair, looking in a mirror lit by a single candle. The face of your lover would then appear behind you in the mirror
@folklore

FairytalesFood, 7 months ago to folklore

A little Halloween Food Folklore for with your first Saturday mug of tea: Báirín Breac (Barmbrack) is a traditional Irish fruit loaf made with tea and sometimes whisky soaked dried fruit, similar to Bara Brith. It also has charms when served at this time of year- a pea meant you’d remain single; a matchstick meant you were doomed to an unhappy marriage; cloth meant poverty on the horizon, the coin prophesied good fortune or riches.

@folklore #folklore

FairytalesFood, 8 months ago to folklore

Halloween food folklore for your tea break: How to attract a husband: You must first steal a turnip (it can’t be bought/given) & peel it in one continuous strip & then bury the peel in the garden on All Hallows Eve. The turnip must then be hung behind the door & you must go & sit beside the fire. The next man through the door will bear the same name as your future husband.

I’m not suggesting everyone wants a husband but in days gone by they were a little more indispensable
#folklore @folklore

mythologymonday, 8 months ago to mythology

Greetings, myth lovers! Join @AimeeMaroux for today's theme: Pumpkins. Which myths feature pumpkins, gourds or squashes? Tell us a the myth & tag #MythologyMonday with your #pumpkin lore. See you #Monday! 🎃

Art: Peruvian carved and decorated gourd:
https://www.pbase.com/hjsteed/image/34463543

@mythology @folklore @TarkabarkaHolgy @juergen_hubert @curiousordinary @wihtlore @FairytalesFood @bevanthomas @FinnFolklorist @Godyssey

#mythology #Folklore #folktale #legend #Storytelling

FairytalesFood, 9 months ago to folklore

Shiny new things alert! It’s the podcast’s 3rd anniversary episode, so in order to honour the all powerful story rule of 3, I am bringing you not one but three episodes! My first has everything you might want in a story: bees, a blue eyed hare, a wise old woman, a witch & All Hallows Eve plus some interesting things you may not know about bees, honey, death & the Underworld: https://bit.ly/3Zd68rQ

#folktales #Folklore @folklore

FairytalesFood, 9 months ago to folklore

That’s it, 3 third birthday podcast episodes & blog posts in the bag (well uploaded and scheduled for tomorrow anyway). They are 3 very different episodes and I hope people get something from at least one, whether that’s entertainment, knowledge or maybe even a touch of healing. I’m off now to make noodle soup, play with the cat beast and enjoy making pretty things that might persuade people to listen to them.
#Folklore @folklore

FairytalesFood, 9 months ago to folklore

If you’re lacking reading materials for your Wednesday tea break, may I recommend my latest letter? From Paint Drying to Postatia Cream Via Thresholds, The Goddess Cardea, A Maiden Fair & The Fountain Fairy & To Cure A Cough. It’s a wonderful opportunity to explore some folklore around thresholds, learn about a Goddess of hinges, enjoy a charming fairy story & consider what we did before commercial cough treatments.

@folklore #Folklore

https://folklorefoodfairytales.substack.com/p/from-paint-drying-to-postatia-cream

FairytalesFood, 10 months ago to folklore

“I sometimes feel as if there is a great chain of stories that links us all through the ages. And each link in the chain is a gift received and passed on in turn.”
S.F. Said

I saw this quote at an exhibition and fell in love with it. A part of me also wants to swap the word stories for recipes which I feel is also valid.
#Stories #Storytelling #Storyteller #Folklore @folklore #recipe

mythologymonday, 10 months ago to folklorethursday

Greetings, myth lovers! For the upcoming #BookLoversDay we are asking: what are your favourite mythology-themed #books?

Tell us about the #myth and the #book with the hashtag #MythologyMonday for boosts!
Let's swap some awesome recs, all right? 😊
Your host @AimeeMaroux is looking forward to all your #book reports! 😚

🎨 Armchair Books, Edinburgh
https://www.armchairbooks.co.uk/

#NationalBookLoversDay @bookstodon #mythology #folklore #folktale #legends #Storytelling @mythology @folklore @folklorethursday @TarkabarkaHolgy @juergen_hubert @curiousordinary @wihtlore @FairytalesFood