Adorning the Holiday Table
by Lady Gyngere of the Grove
Numerous earthly treasures can be incorporated into holiday feasting tablescapes. Rich with tradition and religious nuances, natural elements can enhance a sumptuous Christmas hors d'oeuvres spread, a Winter Solstice repast, a wassailing punchbowl setting, or a Saturnalia buffet. The forest elements of Druid, Christian, Celtic, and mythological legends can be used thematically in party invitations, party favors, table decorations, and entrance adornments. Here are some seasonal references to inspire your holiday spirit.
Mistletoe
Also known as golden bough, mistletoe was held sacred by multiple cultures throughout history, due to its perceived healing and magical attributes. Often worn as an amulet or placed in cradles, it was thought to prevent babies from being kidnapped by fairies. The ancient Celts used the plant to protect against lightning, thunder, and evil, and offered it to the first cow that gave birth each year to guard the herd against illness and calamity.
For British Druids, mistletoe was believed to heal the sick, render poison harmless, dispel evil spirits, aid in conception, protect against storms, and bring good fortune. Five nights after the first new moon following Winter Solstice, Druid priests would ritually cut mistletoe from the sacred oak trees in which they grew with gold and silver sickles. The cut sprigs were then placed above doors as a totem and to end feuds. Foes who met under mistletoe in the forest would sheathe their weaponry and maintain a truce for a day.
The Norse had a similar custom when meeting under mistletoe in battle. In Norse mythology, Frigga, goddess of love, sought to keep her son, Balder, god of the summer sun, safe from a premonition of death by asking the elements, plants, and animals to promise not to hurt him. But because the mistletoe grew neither on nor under the earth, she overlooked it. So Loki, god of evil, made an arrow of the plant for Hoder, god of winter, who killed Balder with it. But Frigga was able to bring him back to life when her tears became the white berries on the mistletoe. After that, she promised to kiss anyone standing under the plant.
With the advent of Christianity, this plant, symbolic of pagan practices, was forbidden to be used in churches, but eventually these prejudices dissipated.
Cherry branch
An old European custom was to remove a branch from a cherry tree at the onset of the Advent. Kept in water near a hearth, the branch would usually bloom by Christmas.
Rosemary
Named for "the rose of Mary," the rosemary bush was said to shelter the Virgin Mary during a journey. Legend has it that when she laid her blue cape on the bush to dry, it turned the white flowers blue. The herb also was thought to be a powerful ward against evil. Consequently, it was strewn on the floor at yuletide during the Middle Ages, and later used to adorn homes and churches for the season.
Wreath
A symbol of strength to Europeans for centuries, wreaths of evergreen were set ablaze during the dark winter to bring optimism in anticipation of the coming spring. In the ancient Persian Empire, "diadems" were headbands often adorned with jewels, a custom that later evolved into the placing of laurel wreaths on the heads of winning athletes in the Olympic Games. Romans then were believed to have hung wreaths on their doors as a sign of victory.
Another use of a wreath as a diadem was the Swedish Crown of Lights. Worn by young Swedish girls on St. Lucia's Day, these wreaths bore lighted candles.
Holly
Used on doors and windows in ancient times to prevent demons from entering abodes, holly also had a connotation of hospitality to pagans, who put its leaves and branches around their homes in winter to invite the fairies to come in out of the cold. Ancient Romans honored the sun god Saturn with holly during the festival of Saturnalia.
Under the philosophy that evergreens were favored by the sun, the Druids believed that holly kept the earth beautiful when autumn caused the sacred oak and other trees to lose their leaves. They wove sprigs into their hair just after winter solstice for the ceremonial cutting of the mistletoe. Druids also linked the red holly berries with the menstrual blood of their goddess.
Young girls in western England tied sprigs of holly around their beds on Christmas Eve to ward off goblins. In Great Britain, farmers also adorned their beehives with sprigs of holly to commemorate the supposed humming of the bees in honor of Christ's birth. Yet another holly custom from the British Isles involves bringing "male" and "female" holly branches into the home to maintain marital bliss. (If only one gender of holly is used, that gender's spouse will rule the home for the coming year.)
Here are several mouth-watering ways to incorporate herbs and other ingredients dating back to the medieval/renaissance epoch into your festivities!
Gluhwein (Hot Spiced Wine)
1 bottle red wine (German)
2 cloves
2 cinnamon sticks
1/2 cup sugar
1 orange, sliced thin
1 lemon, sliced thin
1 small box raisins (optional)
4 oz. RumCombine wine, cloves, cinnamon sticks, and sugar, and bring to a boil. Lower heat and add fruit and rum. Simmer one hour, strain, and serve.
Other recipes in magazine:
Sneeballe
The Yule Log (with Chestnut Filling and Mocha Frosting)
© 2001 Renaissance Magazine One Controls Dr
Shelton CT 06484 USA
(800) 232-2224 voice
(800) 775-2729 fax
ladyjanet@renaissancemagazine.com