Traditional Glögg (Swedish Mulled Wine)

Traditional Glögg (Swedish Mulled Wine)

While many versions of this Scandinavian yuletide punch exist, every rendition invariably calls for red wine, orange peel, clove and cardamom. If you’re pressed for time, prepare this drink one day early and reheat it before serving.

½ cup sugar

2 cinnamon sticks, broken in half

4 whole cloves

6 cardamom pods, crushed

1 orange peel, cut into strips

1 ginger root, peeled and cut in half

1 cup brandy

2 cups Pinot Noir, or other light-bodied red wine

2 cups Port

Raisins, for garnish

Blanched almonds, for garnish

In a large pot, combine the sugar with 1 cup of water. Over high heat, stir the liquid with a wooden spoon until the sugar is completely dissolved, and then bring to a boil. Lower the heat to medium, and add the cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, orange peel and ginger. Stir again, keeping the liquid at a simmer.

Add the brandy, wine and Port. Taste the punch, and add additional sugar or spice to taste. Strain and ladle into mugs. Garnish with almonds and raisins, and serve warm. 

Serves 6.

Feast of Juul - Winter Solstice Yule Log

The Feast of Juul was a pre-Christian festival observed in Scandinavia at the time of the December solstice. Fires were lit to symbolize the heat, light and life-giving properties of the returning sun.
A Yule or Juul log was brought in and burned on the hearth in honor of the Scandinavian god Thor.

A piece of the log was kept as both a token of good luck and as kindling for the following year’s log.

In England, Germany, France and other European countries, the Yule log was burned until nothing but ash remained. The ashes were then collected and either strewn on the fields as fertilizer every night until Twelfth Night or kept as a charm and or as medicine.

Cinnamon Clay for Winter Solstice Decorations

Cinnamon Clay for Winter Solstice Decorations

This is a non-edible recipe for making a scented dough with which you can create charms, ornaments, and small altar pieces.

Ingredients:

1 cup unsweetened Applesauce
1/3 cup White Glue
Any combination of ground Cloves, ground Nutmeg, ground allspice, and/or ground ginger to equal 1 cup
1/2 cup of ground cinnamon

Directions:

In a medium bowl, stir together cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, allspice and ginger. Mix in the applesauce and glue. Work the mixture with hands for 2-3 minutes to form a firm ball. If it’s too wet, add more cinnamon, if it’s too dry, add more applesauce.

To make ornaments:

Roll out the dough between layers of wax paper to a thickness of 1/8" to 1/4". Use cookie cutters to cut out desired shapes. Use a toothpick or straw to cut out a hole near the top of the shape for a hanger. Let the shapes dry on wax paper or a wire rack for a couple of days, flip a few times to promote even drying and avoid curling.

When dry, paint with puffy/dimensional paint, if you like, or leave the ornaments plain. Add a ribbon, twine or yarn hanger.

Molded shapes:

Pinch off as much dough as you need to make your shape, and leave the rest in the covered bowl. Work the dough into any desired shape with your hands. When you have finished molding your shape, put it on a piece of waxed paper to dry. It should dry in about 2 or 3 days to a hard finish

Items created with this dough carry the energy of the Sun and the element of Fire. They are useful for attracting love and prosperity and for protection.
You may choose to use items in closets, drawers and chests to keep items safe and smelling nice and to charge those items with the herbs qualities.

Make sun shaped discs and paint them for hanging upon your Christmas tree

This dish carries energies for the following magical purposes:

Protection, love, prosperity.