Glögg: an ancient drink!🍷
✒️Hello everyone! Today I bring you a bit of European history and gastronomy, focusing on an ancient Scandinavian drink called "Glögg", which I had the pleasure to taste last night. Sources can be find at the end in APA formar!
What is Glögg?
Glögg or glogg (Danish: gløgg, Norwegian: gløgg, Swedish: glögg, Icelandic: glögg, Faroese: gløgg, Finnish: glögi, Estonian: glögi) is a spiced, usually alcoholic, mulled wine or spirit. It is a traditional Nordic drink that has been drunk since ancient times during the cold winters, and later, to celebrate Christmas.
Nowadays many people drink this drink at "Christmas", the Christian celebration, however, we know very well that it was an appropriation of pagan festivities.
In the Nordic countries, drinking mulled wine is a tradition that dates back to the 16th century. It was drunk especially by messengers and postmen who travelled on horseback or skis in cold weather.
How the Nordic countries gave us Christmas:
Long before Christianity had come to the Nordic regions, the pagans and other ancient Germanic peoples would celebrate the winter solstice each December, the time of year when the days were the shortest and the night's the longest. Friends and relatives would get together and enjoy food and drink in a festival known as Yule.
As Christianity swept across Germanic Europe centuries ago, many Yuletide traditions were adopted and absorbed into the Christian faith, mixing together to create the modern Christmas we celebrate today.
Source: UK History blog.
Traditional Swedish Glögg recipe:
You can find the recipe right here!🍷🍂
Sources:
How the Vikings gave us Christmas. (n.d.). Sky HISTORY TV Channel. Retrieved September 2, 2021, from https://www.history.co.uk/articles/how-the-vikings-gave-us-christmasWikipedia contributors. (2021, July 31). Glögg.
Wikipedia. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gl%C3%B6gg
I made this today (literally about 30 minutes ago after I finished making a workout log for April) because I got an idea about making devotions a little bit easier for new polytheists as well as more established ones. The layout is pretty simple and allows you to keep track of what deity you prayed to, the date, any offerings that were made, etc. I’ve also included a journaling option. Also (and though it’s not viewable in the pictures below), I’ve left enough room around the borders so people could do their drawings or whatnot. I’m more than happy to provide the documents I created since the pics aren’t that great via email or messenger.
Update: Okay, I think I fixed it so now people can download and begin their devotional book.
I AM A WIND IN THE SEA I am a sea-wave upon the land I am the sound of the sea I am a stag of seven combats I am a hawk on a cliff I am a tear-drop of the sun I am the fairest of flowers I am a boar for valour I am a salmon in a pool I am a lake in a plain I am the excellence of arts I am a spear that wages battle with plunder I am a god who forms subjects for a ruler Who explains the stones of the mountains? Who invokes the ages of the moon? Where lies the setting of the sun? Who bears cattle from the house of Tethra? Who are the cattle of Tethra who laugh? What man, what god, forms weapons? Indeed, then; I invoked a satirist... a satirist of wind. The Book of the Takings of Ireland tells the story of six races that came to the island: the Cessarians, the Partholónians, the Nemedians, the Fir Bolg, the Tuatha Dé Danann, and lastly the Milesians, who were the ancestors of the modern Gaels. According to the legend, the bard Amergin Glúingel, one of the seven sons of Mil, recited this poem as he set his foot upon the land of Ireland for the first time.
The Song of Amergin is the most famous example of old Irish rosc poetry, and its vivid, cryptic imagery has captured imaginations for centuries, inspiring theories, stories, and songs of its own.
(Translation adapted from the Celtic Heroic Age by Koch & Carey)
-Rhiannon- Mythological Welsh fey being turned goddess, Rhiannon brings sweet dreams and fierceness as both a maiden and a mother. And can't forget her beautiful white steed, a horse that can outrun all others! give my Etsy a follow to be notified when I put up limited, hand-signed prints of this piece up for sale!
Samhain Witch Tips - 🎃 Pumpkins 🎃
Carving pumpkins is definitely not just for little kids. Carve sigils, spells, significant imagery, or anything you want into your pumpkin and fill it with your intention with each cut.
If you’re a closeted witch, carve your witchy stuff (sigils, spells etc) into the inside of the pumpkin, and make the outside just a fun design.
Anoint your tea light or votive candle with herbs and oils to match your intention for the season or year. I personally like to make a couple of these and have them lit while I carve as well as use them in the pumpkin/jack-o-lantern.
Before setting your candle into your pumpkin, sprinkle the insides with herbs that match your intentions and maybe some that have some anti-microbial action as well to help your pumpkin last longer before rotting. Cinnamon and cloves are great for this. The warmth from your candle will release your intentions as well as a lovely scent.
If you want to really absorb all the lovely goodness of the work you’ve put into carving this pumpkin, buy a pie pumpkin (sometimes called sugar pumpkin) carve it the night or day before your Samhain celebration, only use safe, culinary herbs inside and keep an unscented candle lit in it (make sure you only use either a soy or beeswax candle with a cotton, unleaded wick,) and the next day you can roast it in the oven (350*F for about an hour usually does it, or until it’s soft enough to easily sink a fork into) And then share this lovely squash with your spirit friends, witchy friends, family etc at your Samhain meal.
Pumpkins and all other winter squash actually keep for a very long time if stored properly. So you can buy a bunch from a farmers market now while they’re in season. Give them a rinse in a diluted bleach and water solution to kill off any mold spores that might cause premature rotting. Then make them part of your Samhain decor to imbue them with your good intentions and then store them in a garage or somewhere else that stays between 50-60*F and you’ll have delicious, enchanted squash all season long! I’ve had some last for up to 4 months before.
Enjoy this lovely seasonal fruit and may it nourish you all season long
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Raia. 20 years old. Gaelic Polytheist & Lugh Devotee.
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