mstdn.social is one of the many independent Mastodon servers you can use to participate in the fediverse.
A general-purpose Mastodon server with a 500 character limit. All languages are welcome.

Administered by:

Server stats:

10K
active users

#FestiveFoodways

0 posts0 participants0 posts today

December 23
Iceland has so many wonderful Christmas traditions however some people are less fond of one of their more famous ones. Fermented skate is traditionally eaten on 23 December also known as ‘Þorláksmessa.’ On this day the shops stay open later and it is a tradition to share this delicacy with family & friends. It is definitely an acquired taste but is one that very good for clearing the sinuses.
@folklore

December 22
During the Middle Ages, rosemary was spread on the floor at Christmas because it repelled evil spirits. The scent drifted through the home and It was said that anyone breathing the fragrance on Christmas Eve would receive happiness during the coming year. I would love if this could happen in my home but I feel modern practicalities might reduce my enjoyment & the cat would eat too much of it.
@folklore

December 20
St. Thomas Eve was once one of a number of nights for divination. A popular ritual was to peel a “St. Thomas Onion”, stick it with 9 pins & put it under your pillow, hoping that you would dream that night of your future husband. A more determined form of the ritual was to cut the onion into four, whispering over the segments the name of the one you hoped/expected to propose. @folklore

December 19
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

📷 unsplash.com/@moritz_photograp

December 18
Juniper is wonderful & not just because of gin: the branches offer protection & at midwinter, if you dream of picking the berries, there’ll be prosperity ahead. People once offered bread to the tree to encourage the tree spirit to heal small children.
At one time people would also pick an apple at harvest & save it to eat at the midwinter solstice to bring health.
@folklore

December 14
Wassailing takes place around Christmas time in the apple producing counties: for a good harvest, cake soaked in cider is put at the foot of a tree & 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
🎨 Henry Vizetelly‘s Christmas with the Poets

December 12
The people of the Nordic countries eat a special version of their rice porridge at Christmas. They put a solitary almond in the bowl on Christmas Eve. In Iceland, Denmark, The Faroe Islands and Norway you get a present from the Yule Lads if you receive the almond in your portion and in Finland and Sweden, receiving the almond in your means you will have luck through the year.
@folklore

December 10
In Yorkshire & other Northern counties women made special cheeses for the festive season & ceremonially crossed the cheeses before they could be tasted on Xmas Eve to keep the devil away. This was usually accompanied by accompanied by a steaming wassail bowl full of spiced ale brimming with lamb’s-wool (fluffy baked inside of apple).
@folklore
📷 English Heritage

December 8
It used to be considered unlucky to cut either the Christmas cheese or Christmas cake before Christmas Eve. They must both 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 so they must have had a will of steel or a particularly large cheese and cake.
📷 Cheese Loft Cafe

@folklore

December 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’ll have good luck for the next 12 months. However, sometimes mince pies aren’t lucky: To avoid ill luck, never refuse a mince pie, always cut with a fork & never a knife & always eat in silence. Popping the mini ones in your mouth whole should cover all 3
@folklore