The Darkest Day
December's Newsletter
December holds the darkest day. On the 21st, here in the UK we will have just under 8 hours of light. From this point on the Oak King takes the light from the Holly King and gradually releases it into the world again, until he must hand the torch back in June. And so it is that this month the light will start to return, yet we have a long way to go before those first shoots of spring appear once more.
To get us through those short, grey days we look to the plenty that summer and autumn have brought us, gathering around the table to feast, re-connect and sing back the light. Yuletide traditions in our household include, mince pies and cheese boards throughout December, violet and rose creams, Turkish delight, an Exit The Game advent for traditional family arguments and on Christmas Eve, Jolabokaflod and a Muppet Christmas Carol.
When I was younger, my mum used to make something she called Croustade D’Lacey. I may not be spelling that correctly. It was a breadcrumb, cheese, marmite and mushroom extravaganza, placed in a filo pasty crust. It was the most delicious thing and we looked forward to it every year, but alas, I never got the recipe from her and I cannot find it anywhere. I have asked various family members, searched recipe books and even online. If anyone has heard of it, do let me know as I would love to make it for my own family.
I have events every weekend leading up to Christmas and in between them, writing of my current WIP must continue in earnest. December’s stories are of the tinsel, the home, feasting and snow. You can find a list of my events further down the newsletter and this month, landing in inboxes for all, there will be ‘The Storyteller’s Library’, plus events and updates.
All being well, I hope to have the second episode of Season 5 of ‘Stories From Lore’ ready for you. For this episode I’m looking at ‘Winged Things’ and this month, for paid subscribers, ‘The Story Forecast’ continues.
In the meantime, I hope December brings you Yuletide joy and hope for the coming year!
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Plant Of The Month
Misteltoe
Mistletoe is most definitely synonymous with Christmas, however it’s in season from as early as October. A parasitic plant, its favourite trees are apple and it is firmly associated with fertility.
As part of a fertility ritual, druids dressed in white would climb oak trees to cut the mistletoe with a golden sickle, just as Getafix The Druid does in the Asterix cartoons.
In the Norse mythology the gods decreed that all things should swear to never harm the most precious of gods, Balder. The only thing that didn’t swear was the young mistletoe, considered too young and unimportant to harm Balder. How wrong were they! With Loki’s help, mistletoe was indeed responsible for the death of beautiful Balder, the god of light. This also links into mistletoe’s association with the dark days of winter and the loss of the light.
Hanging mistletoe above your doorway may invite an unwanted kiss or two, however it also offers protection, good health, peace and hospitality. Mistletoe also comes in handy for opening locks and communicating with the spirits of ancestors past.
December’s Listen :
Something a bit different this month. A podcast with a focus on World War history is not something I would usually listen to, but Zach is someone I work with and the premise for this podcast is very much something I’m interested in and that is that history is still with us and all around us. In amongst the episodes that focus on the World Wars is Tudor history, James Bond and the Saxon queen, Aethelflaed, an eclectic mix of thought provoking episodes.
Upcoming Events For December/January :
7th December - Yuletide Living History Event - Redhouse Museum Christchurch, book here
14th, 15th, 21st & 22nd December - Yuletide Storytelling At Butser Ancient Farm, Book Here
9th January - Reviving Folktales - Brighton Metropolitan University
For more information and to book me for your event, visit my events page using the button below.
Thank you for supporting this newsletter through November. Supporting my work in this way allows me to continue to find new stories and research the old ways, and I thank you from the bottom of my storytelling heart.
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In celebration of the Oak King -
December’s Reads:
Above is a list of the books I am hoping to read over the next month. I will be collating the books I read into one multiple book review post called ‘The Storyteller’s Library’ and will post it towards the end of December.
Does this recipe seem like the dish your Mom used to make? https://www.seasonedkitchen.com/mushroom-croustades