traditions

Repost from Halloween 2019

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Herbs for Halloween

October 30, 2019 by Kristen

In doing some research for the ESL class I teach, I found out some interesting things about Halloween. Most people know the beginnings of Halloween started as Samhain by the Celts and was brought to the USA by Irish immigrants, but what was news to me was the story behind “Trick-or-Treat-ing”. Apparently, as my reputable web sources tell me, it was common to do pranks on Halloween night which during the 1930s depression turned into all out sanctioned hooliganism. It became downright dangerous so people started setting out food to bribe the youngsters (usually teens) to leave their property alone. As that bribery took hold, the greeting became ‘trick or treat’. It was at this same time that there was also a public effort to make Halloween a less scary (and dangerous) night, and more about parties, candy, and costumes. This is how we’ve ended up with superheroes, princesses, and cuddly critters roaming the streets instead of solely ghosts, werewolves, and other terrifying creatures. Of course that’s just for the kids. Any adult female knows that they are supposed to look like a hyper-sexual version of something, anything~ a cat, a housekeeper, a chicken nugget, whatever, but I digress.

Herbs have been used since the beginning of humanity to ward off sickness from colds to plagues, but they have also been used to keep away evil spirits, witches, vampires, elf pranksters, ghosts, and all manners of bad juju. Of course some herbs have been used to invite these entities near, but more often the action has been repulsion, not an e-vite. Oftentimes the herbs used for potent anti-microbial aspects are the same ones used to keep the supernatural entities away, such as garlic. Garlic has a long history of repelling vampires and witches alike, and is of course a strong germ fighter in every sense. According to the Herb Society for America,  in Sanskrit garlic represents “slayer of monsters,” and hanging it around your door brings good fortune.

Another herb that can be hung around your door for keeping evil spirits and witches away is fennel. Of course your door frame might be getting crowded so perhaps planting some near your front door that you can actually use in your kitchen might be a more modern and functional way to go. Fennel is excellent for gas and bloating.

While you are planting front yard herbs (or potted planters by your front door), you might want to consider rue which also has a reputation for protection against evil, trickery, and witchcraft. Salespeople will ‘rue’ the day they approached your home!

Mugwort is an herb known for helping one to remember their dreams and perhaps even facilitate lucid dreaming. It also has been traditionally used as a protective herb against evil spirits, and according to The Herb Exchange, St. John the Baptist wore a girdle of mugwort for protection in the wilderness.  This is an herb that is generally burned as incense before bed for the dreaming effect, or worn in a sachet for protective use.

And the last one I’ll mention is the magical Elder tree. This legendary tree is a protective keeper-away-of-all-evil and was revered by the druids who considered the tree to be inhabited by an old sage soul. This is the same tree that has the reputation of being a gateway to the land of the fairies and it is considered quite lucky to have one growing on your property, just don’t cut off a branch or even a twig because that is considered bad luck! Gathering the fallen twigs or branches is perfectly fine though and can bring protection into your home.

Enjoy your holiday and although I’m honestly not really feeling into Halloween this year, I do like the holiday and a good costume. Isak Dinesen wrote: “Truth is for the tailors and shoemakers…I, on the contrary, have always held that the Lord has a penchant for masquerades.” Happy Halloween. masked

New Year, New You

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I’ve actually never gotten very into New Years resolutions very much. I tend to think in terms of personal goals and growth more around my birthday which happens to be on the first of a month when my surroundings are waking up to spring a bit, and it feels like a better time to me for renewal. But this year is different. It’s a new decade and last year was horrifically miserable, and apparently a lot of people had a seriously rough 2019’s, so I’m more than happy to see it dissolve into history and embrace a New Year with all the opportunities of newness it brings.

I’ve seen many statements about 2019 being rough because it was a year of growth, so I’ve tried to write down the ways I’ve grown to make it a true leaning and not something that has to be repeated over and over again for it to sink in. If you had a tumultuous year too, I encourage you to do the same. Don’t just be glad it’s over and jump into the next year as if it’ll be different now, instead write down what you learned, or at least have a long hard think about it if writing isn’t your thing. Make it conscious and dig deeper, because there are probably more nuggets of wisdom to uncover if you stay curious and courageous b/c it takes bravery to revisit painful things and experience the buried emotions. But it’s worth it. You have to experience the emotions before they let you be.

We all get this crazy reset opportunity once a year, and it always strikes me every single time how hopeful people are that they’ll be better next year, they’ll stick with their resolutions this time, this is the year they’ll really do it. So often the gyms are packed in January, semi-packed in February, and by March the old patterns have bullied themselves back in, stealthily disguised as life, and the world turns for another season of repetition. Don’t let that be you. Not everyone hits the gym in January, but most people do have a notion of what they want for the coming year, and if it involves you changing in some way, only you can do it. Whether you are more aligned with Virgil’s, “Fortune favors the bold,” or more Louis Pasteur with his, “Fortune favors the prepared mind,” there is decidedly more action involved than mysterious lady luck.

Cleanses and detoxes are ways to jump start any change because our mental and emotional selves need detoxing too, as do our relationships. These are the ones I wrote about last year and they are the ones I always turn to when I feel the need for a deep cleanse, especially the kitchari which that post has the recipe for. Speaking of ‘jump starts’, I read that in Denmark it is customary to jump off a chair at the stroke of midnight to leap into the New Year for good luck. I love how literal that is! There are so many global traditions for New Year’s that all are an effort to bring good luck (I compiled a list for my ESL class with more highlights from that down below) and it makes me wonder if that’s why people give up on the changes they plan to make, as in maybe they feel ‘luck’ and life aren’t cooperating fully so they surrender to it…? I’m guessing the people who hit their goals are the ones who rely a little less on fortune and a bit more on fortitude.

But a little luck never hurts so eat the grapes and lentils, wear the red or yellow underwear, and jump off all the chairs tonight~ life may not catch you where you wanted but you’ll land on your feet somewhere, that’s a promise.

Happy New Year and best wishes for 2020. Here’s some global inspiration on how to spend this evening:

From Greece: An onion is traditionally hung on the front door of homes on New Year’s Even in Greece as a symbol of rebirth in the New Year. On New Year’s Day, parents wake their children by tapping them on the head with the onion.

In Ecuador they celebrate the New Year by burning paper filled scarecrows at midnight. They also burn photographs from the last year. All in the name of good fortune.

In some South American countries wearing colored underwear will determine your fate for the new year. Red underwear means you’ll find love. Gold means wealth, and white signifies peace.

In Japan they ring all of their bells 108 times in alignment with the Buddhist belief that this brings cleanness. It’s also considered good to be smiling going into the New Year as it supposedly brings good luck.

Every year at the end of December people in a small Peruvian village fist fight to settle their differences. They then start the year off on a clean slate.

In Switzerland they celebrate the New Year by dropping ice cream on the floor.

In Romania they throw their spare coins into the river to get good luck.

In some parts of Puerto Rico, they throw pails of water out of their windows to drive away evil spirits.

And in Spain it is customary to eat 12 grapes, one at each stroke of the clock at midnight on New Year’s Eve. Each grape represents good luck for one month of the coming year. Eating grapes at midnight actually occurs in quite a few cultures around the world which begs the question, where is everyone finding grapes at this time of year? Good luck!

Cheers!🥂

Frosty Fleur

 

The History of the Christmas Tree — The Herb Society of America Blog

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By Susan Leigh Anthony For the past six years I have worked at a wonderful, high-end garden center. Among the many seasonal items we sell throughout the holidays are Christmas trees and a wonderful array of cut evergreens. Surrounded by this abundance of holiday décor, I began to wonder about where the idea of bringing […]

via The History of the Christmas Tree — The Herb Society of America Blog

Herbs for Halloween

by

In doing some research for the ESL class I teach, I found out some interesting things about Halloween. Most people know the beginnings of Halloween started as Samhain by the Celts and was brought to the USA by Irish immigrants, but what was news to me was the story behind “Trick-or-Treat-ing”. Apparently, as my reputable web sources tell me, it was common to do pranks on Halloween night which during the 1930s depression turned into all out sanctioned hooliganism. It became downright dangerous so people started setting out food to bribe the youngsters (usually teens) to leave their property alone. As that bribery took hold, the greeting became ‘trick or treat’. It was at this same time that there was also a public effort to make Halloween a less scary (and dangerous) night, and more about parties, candy, and costumes. This is how we’ve ended up with superheroes, princesses, and cuddly critters roaming the streets instead of solely ghosts, werewolves, and other terrifying creatures. Of course that’s just for the kids. Any adult female knows that they are supposed to look like a hyper-sexual version of something, anything~ a cat, a housekeeper, a chicken nugget, whatever, but I digress.

Herbs have been used since the beginning of humanity to ward off sickness from colds to plagues, but they have also been used to keep away evil spirits, witches, vampires, elf pranksters, ghosts, and all manners of bad juju. Of course some herbs have been used to invite these entities near, but more often the action has been repulsion, not an e-vite. Oftentimes the herbs used for potent anti-microbial aspects are the same ones used to keep the supernatural entities away, such as garlic. Garlic has a long history of repelling vampires and witches alike, and is of course a strong germ fighter in every sense. According to the Herb Society for America,  in Sanskrit garlic represents “slayer of monsters,” and hanging it around your door brings good fortune.

Another herb that can be hung around your door for keeping evil spirits and witches away is fennel. Of course your door frame might be getting crowded so perhaps planting some near your front door that you can actually use in your kitchen might be a more modern and functional way to go. Fennel is excellent for gas and bloating.

While you are planting front yard herbs (or potted planters by your front door), you might want to consider rue which also has a reputation for protection against evil, trickery, and witchcraft. Salespeople will ‘rue’ the day they approached your home!

Mugwort is an herb known for helping one to remember their dreams and perhaps even facilitate lucid dreaming. It also has been traditionally used as a protective herb against evil spirits, and according to The Herb Exchange, St. John the Baptist wore a girdle of mugwort for protection in the wilderness.  This is an herb that is generally burned as incense before bed for the dreaming effect, or worn in a sachet for protective use.

And the last one I’ll mention is the magical Elder tree. This legendary tree is a protective keeper-away-of-all-evil and was revered by the druids who considered the tree to be inhabited by an old sage soul. This is the same tree that has the reputation of being a gateway to the land of the fairies and it is considered quite lucky to have one growing on your property, just don’t cut off a branch or even a twig because that is considered bad luck! Gathering the fallen twigs or branches is perfectly fine though and can bring protection into your home.

Enjoy your holiday and although I’m honestly not really feeling into Halloween this year, I do like the holiday and a good costume. Isak Dinesen wrote: “Truth is for the tailors and shoemakers…I, on the contrary, have always held that the Lord has a penchant for masquerades.” Happy Halloween. masked