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The Sacred Herbs of Yule and Christmas: Remedies, Recipes, Magic, and Brews for the Winter Season
An around-the-world tour of ancient Christmas celebrations, Pagan Solstice customs, and magical seasonal plants
• Explores in depth the medicinal and magical properties of the many herbs, barks, and berries associated with the Christmas and Yuletide season
• Looks at the origins of the Christmas tree and Santa Claus, as well as female gift bringers, holiday Spirits, and Yuletide animals
• Shares crafts such as how to make a Yule Log, practices such as Winter Solstice divinations, and recipes for traditional foods and drinks
For millennia cultures have taken time out to honor the darkest days of the year with lights, foods, and festivities.
In ancient Egypt, people decorated their homes with greenery at the festival of the rebirth of the God Horus. The ancient Romans shared gifts, especially candles, at the midwinter festival of Saturnalia. In Scandinavian and Germanic cultures, the Yule Log was burned in the hearth, fruit orchards were wassailed, and sheaves of wheat were displayed to carry luck into the New Year. In Celtic cultures, mummers and guisers went door to door, and European mistletoe (Viscum album) was gathered by Druids as a medicinal and magical aid.
Ellen Evert Hopman shares folklore, recipes, rituals, and crafts to enliven your Yuletide observance. She explores the origins of the Christmas tree and Santa Claus as well as holiday Spirits and Yuletide animals. She explains how to perform Winter Solstice divinations and make traditional foods and drinks such as Elizabethan gingerbread cookies and Wassail. And she looks in depth at the medicinal and magical properties of the many herbs, barks, and berries associated with the Christmas and Yuletide season such as Frankincense and Myrrh, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Hibiscus, Bayberry, and many more. This guide offers practical and magical ways to celebrate and honor the darkest days of the year.
• Explores in depth the medicinal and magical properties of the many herbs, barks, and berries associated with the Christmas and Yuletide season
• Looks at the origins of the Christmas tree and Santa Claus, as well as female gift bringers, holiday Spirits, and Yuletide animals
• Shares crafts such as how to make a Yule Log, practices such as Winter Solstice divinations, and recipes for traditional foods and drinks
For millennia cultures have taken time out to honor the darkest days of the year with lights, foods, and festivities.
In ancient Egypt, people decorated their homes with greenery at the festival of the rebirth of the God Horus. The ancient Romans shared gifts, especially candles, at the midwinter festival of Saturnalia. In Scandinavian and Germanic cultures, the Yule Log was burned in the hearth, fruit orchards were wassailed, and sheaves of wheat were displayed to carry luck into the New Year. In Celtic cultures, mummers and guisers went door to door, and European mistletoe (Viscum album) was gathered by Druids as a medicinal and magical aid.
Ellen Evert Hopman shares folklore, recipes, rituals, and crafts to enliven your Yuletide observance. She explores the origins of the Christmas tree and Santa Claus as well as holiday Spirits and Yuletide animals. She explains how to perform Winter Solstice divinations and make traditional foods and drinks such as Elizabethan gingerbread cookies and Wassail. And she looks in depth at the medicinal and magical properties of the many herbs, barks, and berries associated with the Christmas and Yuletide season such as Frankincense and Myrrh, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Hibiscus, Bayberry, and many more. This guide offers practical and magical ways to celebrate and honor the darkest days of the year.
- GenresChristmasNonfiction
512 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 12, 2023
13 people are currently reading
133 people want to read
About the author
Ellen Evert Hopman
27 books163 followersEllen Evert Hopman is a Master Herbalist and lay Homeopath who holds an
M.Ed. in Mental Health Counseling. She is a certified writing instructor
through Amherst Writers and Artists. She is Archdruid of Tribe of the Oak www.tribeoftheoak.com, a Druidic teaching Order, and was a former Co-chief
of the Whiteoak Druid Order (Ord na Darach Gile) and Vice President of
The Henge Of Keltria, an international Druid Fellowship, for nine years. She
is the founder of the Whiteoak internet mailing list, an on-line Druid ethics study
group, and a co-founder of The Order of the Whiteoak (Ord Na Darach Gile)
www.whiteoakdruids.org. She is also a co-founder of the North East Druid
Coalition
She is the author of a trilogy of Iron Age Druid novels; Priestess of the Forest: A Druid Journey, The Druid Isle and Priestess of the Fire Temple - a Druid's Tale.
Her books on trees include a revised and expanded new edition of Tree Medicine Tree Magic (Pendraig Publishing) and
A Druids Herbal of Sacred Tree Medicine (Destiny books/Inner Traditions Bear
and Company)
Her other books include;
Secret Medicines from your Garden (Healing Arts Press), Secret Medicines of your Kitchen (mPower Publishing), The Sacred Herbs of Samhain (Destiny Books) The Sacred Herbs of Beltaine (Destiny Books), Scottish Herbs and Fairy Lore (Pendraig Publishing), A Legacy of Druids (Moon Books),
A Druid's Herbal For the Sacred Earth Year ( Inner Traditions/Destiny Books ),
Being a Pagan (with Lawrence Bond)(Inner Traditions/Destiny Books), Walking
The World In Wonder - A Children's Herbal (Healing Arts Press), she is a
co-author of Grimoire For The Apprentice Wizard (Newpage Books).
She has released the
video/DVDs Gifts From the Healing Earth and Pagans -the Wheel of the Year ( From
Sawmill River Productions, http://www.sawmillriver.com/ )
She has released three audio tapes The Druid Path: Herbs And Festivals,
Celtic Gods and Goddesses, and The Herbal And Magical Powers Of Trees (from
Creative Seminars, POB 203, West Hurley, New York 12491).
She has been a teacher of Herbalism since 1983 and of Druidism since 1990 . Find her books, workshops and blog at www.elleneverthopman.com
M.Ed. in Mental Health Counseling. She is a certified writing instructor
through Amherst Writers and Artists. She is Archdruid of Tribe of the Oak www.tribeoftheoak.com, a Druidic teaching Order, and was a former Co-chief
of the Whiteoak Druid Order (Ord na Darach Gile) and Vice President of
The Henge Of Keltria, an international Druid Fellowship, for nine years. She
is the founder of the Whiteoak internet mailing list, an on-line Druid ethics study
group, and a co-founder of The Order of the Whiteoak (Ord Na Darach Gile)
www.whiteoakdruids.org. She is also a co-founder of the North East Druid
Coalition
She is the author of a trilogy of Iron Age Druid novels; Priestess of the Forest: A Druid Journey, The Druid Isle and Priestess of the Fire Temple - a Druid's Tale.
Her books on trees include a revised and expanded new edition of Tree Medicine Tree Magic (Pendraig Publishing) and
A Druids Herbal of Sacred Tree Medicine (Destiny books/Inner Traditions Bear
and Company)
Her other books include;
Secret Medicines from your Garden (Healing Arts Press), Secret Medicines of your Kitchen (mPower Publishing), The Sacred Herbs of Samhain (Destiny Books) The Sacred Herbs of Beltaine (Destiny Books), Scottish Herbs and Fairy Lore (Pendraig Publishing), A Legacy of Druids (Moon Books),
A Druid's Herbal For the Sacred Earth Year ( Inner Traditions/Destiny Books ),
Being a Pagan (with Lawrence Bond)(Inner Traditions/Destiny Books), Walking
The World In Wonder - A Children's Herbal (Healing Arts Press), she is a
co-author of Grimoire For The Apprentice Wizard (Newpage Books).
She has released the
video/DVDs Gifts From the Healing Earth and Pagans -the Wheel of the Year ( From
Sawmill River Productions, http://www.sawmillriver.com/ )
She has released three audio tapes The Druid Path: Herbs And Festivals,
Celtic Gods and Goddesses, and The Herbal And Magical Powers Of Trees (from
Creative Seminars, POB 203, West Hurley, New York 12491).
She has been a teacher of Herbalism since 1983 and of Druidism since 1990 . Find her books, workshops and blog at www.elleneverthopman.com
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
November 20, 2023
Enjoyed this entertaining mix of historical information, cultural traditions, recipes, and "magical" remedies more than I thought I would. It made me feel like a Christmas witch by the end of it!
Would have loved if editors included a few more photos and illustrations of the traditions and recipes.
Would have loved if editors included a few more photos and illustrations of the traditions and recipes.
December 22, 2024
I really wish I started reading The Sacred Herbs of Yule and Christmas sooner. It has some recipes that look really good. Spiced Glassed Winter Solstice Scones would have been wonderful for afternoon tea on Solstice Eve. I have all the ingredients, if I have time I might make them this afternoon.
There's also a recipe for Lebkuchen Spice Mix for Lebluchen cookies. I've been looking for the mix and now I can make my own.
While there are plenty of recipes for all of Winter, I need to make notes on my Calendar for the scones for next year as well as recipes for Christmas. 🧙🏻♀️📖🎄
There's also a recipe for Lebkuchen Spice Mix for Lebluchen cookies. I've been looking for the mix and now I can make my own.
While there are plenty of recipes for all of Winter, I need to make notes on my Calendar for the scones for next year as well as recipes for Christmas. 🧙🏻♀️📖🎄
December 27, 2023
This book was perfect for this time of year! The author starts with the traditions of Christmas, such as what each country celebrates and how we got Santa, the reindeer etc. BTW those little red and white topped mushrooms. Totally Christmas! That's how they got flying reindeers-got high and had a few umm visions.
The next part of the book deals with the herbs of the season and she gives the medicinal use, magical and then gives a recipe/craft for each.
Totally fun!
The next part of the book deals with the herbs of the season and she gives the medicinal use, magical and then gives a recipe/craft for each.
Totally fun!
December 4, 2023
Recipes and Magick for the winter holidays...
A comprehensive collection of herbal lore, remedies, recipes, and more from cultures around the world.
Much more than your basic herbal recipe book this dives into the history and lore connected to the use of these herbs at this time of year.
A wonderful new edition to my witchy book shelf.
A comprehensive collection of herbal lore, remedies, recipes, and more from cultures around the world.
Much more than your basic herbal recipe book this dives into the history and lore connected to the use of these herbs at this time of year.
A wonderful new edition to my witchy book shelf.
August 6, 2025
Very interesting book with the first half giving a high level overview of customs, traditions, lore common to Yule across different areas. I appreciated that many of her sources were footnoted. The other half was more of an herbalist overview of plants and herbs but also had "Yule time" food and drink recipes.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews