Wassail- Delicious hot mulled cider from Old England. Toast by saying “wassail!” – meaning “be you healthy!”
Cognac- A sip of this special brandy makes gift wrapping zip right along.
Snickerdoodles- No not the cookies. This is my term for my delightfully rambunctious grandsons ages 5 and 3. They and other family members make for a sparkling December.
Ginger cookies- Yes cookies. My favorite cookies. Yum!
Fruitcake- Out of favor, this iconic cake with candied fruit, nuts, and spirits still brings me a heartfelt sense of warmth. On Christmases past I’d make them every year.
Cold weather- Brrr! We’re getting some today after weeks of sultry heat.
Birthday- It’s two weeks before Christmas, making me a holiday baby and a Sagittarian.
Anniversary- This auspicious day is three days after Christmas. We chose it because it fell in between semesters.
Christmas movies- I love the happily ever after ones on television such as The Christmas List.
Christmas lights- This is one vision that looks even more beautiful in an empty living room late at night without my corrective lenses. BIG red, green, and blue lights.
Christmas scents- Nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, vanilla, sage, and all the other aromas and delicacies Keats heaped onto “golden dishes and in baskets bright of wreathed silver.”
Christmas music- My favorite carol is It Came Upon a Midnight Clear.
Full Cold Moon- Full moon in December, also called the Long Nights Moon by some Native Americans. It’s best to hunker down by the fireplace with a good book and a goblet of wassail on this long dark night.
In December the natural wheel of the year encourages us to take stock of where we are and plan for new beginnings. It’s a magical time. After the greatest darkness the light returns.
I really enjoyed the way you broke down each element of December. Ginger cookies, wassil and fruit cake–all my favorites. Thanks for sharing this delightful information.