FROM THE JOURNAL - COCKTAILS & CURIOSITIES
The Eleventh Day of Christmas
Cocktail : Flame of Love Martini!
Recipe: Vodka, sherry, lots of flamed orange peel oils in the glass and as a garnish
Yule is one of the oldest winter celebrations, dating back centuries and centred around the winter solstice – the shortest day of the year.
When Christianity spread through Europe and the British Isles, some traditions from earlier Germanic and Scandinavian midwinter celebrations became woven into Christmas customs. The festive period evolved over time, combining old winter rituals with the celebration of the birth of Christ.
One of the most famous Yule traditions was the burning of the Yule Log.
Long before medieval times, lighting a great log during the winter solstice was seen as a way of welcoming back the sun and celebrating the return of longer days. Some believe that the candles and lights we associate with Christmas today may have echoes of these ancient winter fires.
The Yule Log was traditionally a large piece of wood – sometimes an entire tree – carefully chosen and brought into the home as part of a special ceremony. It was decorated with evergreens such as holly and ivy, symbolising life and renewal during the darkest days of winter.
The process of bringing in the Yule Log was considered an important ritual. It was believed that helping to carry it into the home would bring good luck for the year ahead. The log was often lit using a piece of the previous year's log, keeping the tradition alive from one winter to the next, and blessings were sometimes said over it before it burned.
In some traditions, the Yule Log was expected to burn throughout the Twelve Days of Christmas, with wine sometimes poured over it as part of the celebration.
As homes changed and fireplaces became smaller, the practical need for a giant burning log disappeared. But the tradition lived on in a new form – the delicious chocolate bûche de Noël, or Yule Log cake.
Now, I don't want to start an argument... but isn't Colin the Caterpillar basically just a Yule Log that got a makeover?
Whatever your thoughts, today's cocktail isn't chocolate and it isn't a log, but it does bring a little bit of fire...