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Friday, December 5, 2014

Yule Log-2014

Yule Log~
Yule Log
In the European Times
Well, I've always wondered about the Yule log~ So my dear Friends & Followers for this Christmas holiday season I thought I would bring you the tale of the Yule Log...
First what is the Yule Log? The Yule Log is a large and very hard log which is burned in the hearth as part of an traditional Yule or modern Christmas celebrations in several Yule or modern Christmas Celebration in several European Cultures. it may also be associated with the winter Solstice Festival, the Twelve Days of Christmas, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Finally the Twelfth Night! Some of these you May or May not know of, but that is the fun of discovery! They are also used as an expression known as the log shaped Christmas cakes, Chocolate logs or Buche de Noel.
The Yule Log is also related to other Christmas and Yule tides traditions such as the ashen faggot.
The Term 'Yule Log', has many different meanings when used in different countries; such as in
Scotland- it is known as the Yeel Carline [Christmas Old Wife]. In Germany; the Yule Log is referred to as 'Christklotz', Christbrand or Weihnachtsscheit-[Christmas log] and is kindled on Christmas Eve. In Ireland; the Yule Log is referred to the; Bloc na Nollag - which means [Christmas Block]. In Welsh; it is called an Boncyff Nadolig [Christmas log].
Finally in the Northeast parts of England; it was commonly called a Yule Clog.
So Now that you know a few terms that were used for the Yule Log, from a couple different countries I thought we would go into more of the history of the Yule Log.
History of the Yule Log~
The True Tradition of the
European Yule Log
The Yule Log was originally an entire Tree, that was carefully chosen and brought into a home
with a grand ceremony. Its purpose was to provide maximum warmth and endurance to the home and the people within it.
In some of the European Traditions, the largest end of a log would be placed into the fire hearth while the rest of the tree is stuck out into the room. What I found in the early traditions of European Christmas, was the Yule Log tradition was morphed into their tradition of the
Twelve Days of Christmas. Then in the 20th century Europe and North America predominantly a reference to the burning of the largest log possible at Christmas.
I did discover that the Yule logs origins were, historical Germanic Paganism which was practiced across Northern Europe prior to Christianization. One of the very first people that suggest this, was an English historian. It was Henry Bourne, who had written about the customs in the 6th and 7th century's on Anglo-Saxon Paganism in the 1720's.
Great Britain~
In Britain Tradition the Yule Log
they would have competitions on who
would have the largest Tree for their
Yule Log
The Britain Tradition with the Yule log... I couldn't find any accounts of the customs of the Yule Log prior to the 17th century - However, some historians and folklorists within London have theorized that it was not an ancient British custom, but was in fact imported to Britain from the Continentals European counties in the early modern period. These could have been Flanders in Belgium where the tradition thrived in this period.
However, there is always a tale in every folklore of each country & even Great Britain too.
This one that I found was written about the 'Christmas Log' and said, 'that it was brought into the farmhouse by a group of males, who were then rewarded with free beer from the farmer's wife. He claimed that the fire used to burn the log was always started with with a remnant from the log that had been burned in the previous years festivities. He also said that the log's role was primarily one! to bring the prosperity and protection from evil - by keeping the remnant of the log all the year long the protection was said to remain across the year.
In ancient Traditions of the British
their Yule Log was a True enormous
Logs that were brought into the homes
To the British, the Yule Log was not only seen as a Magick protection amulet in their British rural Culture. It was so much more in their traditions. There were even rivalries in the community's on who had the largest Yule log(Tree).
Sadly it seems like all the old and ancient traditions die out over time. Just like that of the JULE LOG TOO!. Which did in Britain in the latter of the 19th and early 20th century because of an historian Ronald Hutton who said," The reduction in farm labour and the disappearance of the old-fashioned open hearths'.  Was basically his reasoning for the ancient traditions of the British to stop their traditions of the Yule Log to a much smaller size.
French Speaking Europe~
The Traditional  French
Yule log Dessert Cake
They make it look as much
as the Yule Log ...
In France, Wallonia, Quebec and in Lebanon the 'Christmas Log' is called Buche de Noel.
It is a traditional dessert and its origins is a facsimile of the actual Yule Log.
The tradition of the Yule log was discontinued as large fireplaces became an increasingly rarer feature of the average living room. So when this happened, the dessert is what replaced the tradition. It is usually in the form of a large rectangular yellow cake spread with frosting and rolled up into a cylinder. One end is then lopped off and stood on end to indicate the rings of the 'Log'. It is not known when the dessert or its name originated. It is known to have existed by the year 1945 and apparently is a tradition of jam rolls served at Christmas and is attested for Poitou-Charentes since the 19th century.
Serbian~
In Serbian a Traditional
Christmas Ceremonial of
burning of Oak twigs with
the leaves left on them
Finally the Badnjak which is a central feature in the traditional Serbian Christmas Badnjak, is preferably a straight and young oak. In the ceremonially it cut down in the early morning to Christmas Eve. When the burning to the Yule Log(Young oak) happens, it is accompanied by prayers that the coming year may bring much happiness, love, luck, riches, and food. These yule logs may burn on through Christmas Day, whether rekindled or kept burning from Christmas Eve. It just depends on the log and the weather. It seems that the first person to visit the family that day is supposed to strike the burning Badnjak with a poker or a branch to make sparks fly from it, at the same time uttering a wish of happiness, prosperity, health, and joy to the family to be abundant as the sparks. These environmental ideas for these customs were the traditional multi-generation of the Serbs country sides household ideas...
Man kisses an Oak Cross
in the freezing waters of
Siberia as part of their tradition
celebration. It is the log that a family solemnly brings into the house and places on the fire on
the evening of Christmas Eve. The tree that is used for the
Since most Serbs today live in towns and cities, the Badnjak is symbolically represented by not the full Oak tree, but by oak twigs with leaves on them. Which are brought in street markets or even received in churches too. The origin of the Badnjak is explained by reference to events surrounding the nativity of Jesus Christ; scholars, however, these customs as practiced inherited from the Old Slavic religion.
In Bulgaria~
In Bulgaria a young man
is chosen to cut down
either a Oak, Elm or
Pear Tree
In Bulgaria, the Yule Log is an important part of Christmas Eve preparations. Traditionally a young man of the family, who was chosen would be sent dressed in his best clothes to cut down an Oak, Elm or Pear Tree which was used as the Budnik.
A Prayer for forgiveness was necessary before it was chopped down and carried on the right shoulder without being allowed to touch the ground. An indication of the importance of this ritual is that Christmas Eve translates to Budnik Eve in Bulgaria.
In some regions, on the man's return he will ask, 'Do you glorify the Young God?' three times and receives a positive answer, "We glorify Him, Welcome". A hole is then bored in one end of the budnik and filled with Chrism made of wine, cooking oil, and incense. The hole is plugged and that end of the log is wrapped with a white linen cloth before the badnik is festively burns it on the hearth. The log is considered to possess special healing powers and the ritual includes songs and the uttering of wishes as the log is lit, much like the Serbian ritual is done.
The log has to burn all night. It is believed that its warmth and light symbolise the coming of Christ as well as providing a warm welcome to the Virgin Mary and the family's ancestors, who are believed to be guests at the table according to traditions in some regions.
Sometimes the fire is put out in the morning using wine. Remains of the Yule log are cherished and may be used to make personal crosses or a plough and the ashes are spread over a field or vineyard to induce better yields. Well I hope that you all found the history
of the Yule Log interesting. I did myself. I thought I would leave you with







a few images of the Yule Log different images too
~Happy Yule Log~

"(✿◠‿◠WENDY
¨´`'*°☆.❥•♪♫♥.(:♥(◡‿◡)♥i❤*☆҉♡☆*☆҉❤
S€ŇĐƗŇG' ¥ØỮ ŦĦƗŞ ĦỮǤ.•-:¦:-`•.¸ŦØ Ş€€ ¥ØỮ ŦĦŘØỮǤĦ ¥ØỮŘ ĐΔ¥*`'`« ҉ »~"˜ `.¸Ɨ HOPE ITŴƗŁŁ β€ ŞỮŘ€ ŦØ Ř€ΔĆĦ ¥ØỮ
`•.¸ŦĦØỮǤĦ ¥ØỮ'Ř€ ALL ARE ₣ΔŘ ΔŴΔ¥
•´☆ ŦĦƗŞ ŞР€ĆƗΔŁ HUG FULL
OF LOVE & JOY IS FROM YOUR WENDY
¸¸.☆♥(◡‿◡)♥✫¨´`'*°☆.❥•♪♫♥.
(:♥(◡‿◡)♥i❤*☆҉♡☆❤❤❤♪♫♪❤❤♪❤*☆҉
❤❤♪❤❤♪♫♪❤❤♪❤❤♪♫♪❤❤❤❤♪♫♪❤❤♪❤❤♪♫♪
*☆*°°﹒☆҉☆¸ \( °‿°)/ ☆҉☆¸.✿¸¸.•´¨¯`'•⋆❥⋆❀´¸ ✿ღ
ڪےڰۣ✿✿ڪےڰۣ✿✿ڪےڰۣ✿✿ڪے❤
`"(✿◠‿◠)˙•
٠•●Celibate life♥´Magic Surrounds Us☆҉☆ƸӜƷ ♪♫♪♫♪❤❤
ƸӜƷ•.¸¸.•´ ... ☾ ❤❤☼ღ(◕‿◕
)❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ƸӜƷ•❤❤❤☼ღ(◕‿◕.•*""*•.¸ƸӜƷ•.¸¸.•
I AM SO HAPPY YOU HAVE COME TO VISIT MY BLOG❤
I HOPE THAT I CAN MAKE YOU DAY FULL OF MAGICK
AND DREAMS FOR JUST THE BREIF TIME YOU ARE HEAR IN
MY WORLD OF MAGIC AND ENCHANTMENT/ LOVEYOU ALL MY
DEAR FREINDS AND FOLLOWERS. YOUR WENDY:O)
`'*°☆.❥•♪♫♥.(:♥(◡‿◡)♥i❤*☆҉♡☆*☆҉❤
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ƸӜƷ•.¸¸.•´ ... (◕‿◕)¸.•*""*•.¸

Thursday, December 4, 2014

Peppermint Chocolate Sticks~

Peppermint Chocolate Sticks~
Peppermint Chocolate Sticks
Good afternoon my dear Friends & Followers, I hope that you all are doing well and are getting ready for the Holiday Season. Well I thought to help you with your baking treats, I would pick some of my favorites ideas for the holiday season.
Throughout the coming weeks I'm going to surprise you with different kinds of holiday treats.. These 'Peppermint Chocolate  Sticks' should brighten your holiday season. If you love chocolate and peppermint these will be a smashing hit for your holiday season. It makes about 80 peppermint chocolate sticks... Enjoy my dear Friends & Followers hugs
1/2 cup white sugar
2/3 cup water
1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
7 ounces dark chocolate - chopped into small pieces
1/4 cup toasted shredded coconut
1 candy thermometer

1- Lightly oil an large baking sheet. Place the white sugar and water in a small, but heavy
Saucepan and heat gently. Stir until the sugar has completely dissolved.
2- Bring the sugar mixer, how to a boil and boil it rapidly without stirring until the
syrup registers 280F on your Candy Thermometer. Then remove the pan from the heat and stir in the 1/2 teaspoon of peppermint extract.
3- Pour the sugar mixture onto the pre-made greased baking sheet and left to set.

4- Break up the peppermint mixture into a small bowl and use the end of a rolling pin to
crush it into small pieces.
5- Melt the 7-ounces of dark chocolate into a double pan - so that it will not burn ... Then remove the dark chocolate from the heat and stir in all the mint pieces and
the shredded
coconut too.
6- After everything is mixed in well, lay mixer on a 12x 10 inch sheet of baking parchment paper flat surface.
Spread the Chocolate mixture all over the parchment paper, leaving a narrow
border all around, to make a nice rectangle shape - which should measure about 10x 8-inches.
Let it set till firm, when the chocolate is completely firm, use a sharp knife and cut thin sticks,
About 21/2 long...
This is the image that I could find
to show you all how to cut your chocolate sticks
after its sets... I hope that 
These Peppermint Chocolate Sticks
Will help in Your Christmas Holidays
Happy baking my dear Friends & Followers
 love you All very much  

"(✿◠‿◠YOURWENDY
¨´`'*°☆.❥•♪♫♥.(:♥(◡‿◡)♥i❤*☆҉♡☆*☆҉❤
S€ŇĐƗŇG' ¥ØỮ ŦĦƗŞ ĦỮǤ.•-:¦:-`•.¸ŦØ Ş€€ ¥ØỮ ŦĦŘØỮǤĦ ¥ØỮŘ ĐΔ¥*`'`« ҉ »~"˜ `.¸Ɨ HOPE ITŴƗŁŁ β€ ŞỮŘ€ ŦØ Ř€ΔĆĦ ¥ØỮ
`•.¸ŦĦØỮǤĦ ¥ØỮ'Ř€ ALL ARE ₣ΔŘ ΔŴΔ¥
•´☆ ŦĦƗŞ ŞР€ĆƗΔŁ HUG FULL
OF LOVE & JOY IS FROM YOUR WENDY
¸¸.☆♥(◡‿◡)♥✫¨´`'*°☆.❥•♪♫♥.
(:♥(◡‿◡)♥i❤*☆҉♡☆❤❤❤♪♫♪❤❤♪❤*☆҉
❤❤♪❤❤♪♫♪❤❤♪❤❤♪♫♪❤❤❤❤♪♫♪❤❤♪❤❤♪♫♪
*☆*°°﹒☆҉☆¸ \( °‿°)/ ☆҉☆¸.✿¸¸.•´¨¯`'•⋆❥⋆❀´¸ ✿ღ
ڪےڰۣ✿✿ڪےڰۣ✿✿ڪےڰۣ✿✿ڪے❤
`"(✿◠‿◠)˙•
٠•●Celibate life♥´Magic Surrounds Us☆҉☆ƸӜƷ ♪♫♪♫♪❤❤
ƸӜƷ•.¸¸.•´ ... ☾ ❤❤☼ღ(◕‿◕
)❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ƸӜƷ•❤❤❤☼ღ(◕‿◕.•*""*•.¸ƸӜƷ•.¸¸.•
I AM SO HAPPY YOU HAVE COME TO VISIT MY BLOG❤
I HOPE THAT I CAN MAKE YOU DAY FULL OF MAGICK
AND DREAMS FOR JUST THE BREIF TIME YOU ARE HEAR IN
MY WORLD OF MAGIC AND ENCHANTMENT/ LOVEYOU ALL MY
DEAR FREINDS AND FOLLOWERS. YOUR WENDY:O)
`'*°☆.❥•♪♫♥.(:♥(◡‿◡)♥i❤*☆҉♡☆*☆҉❤
S€ŇĐƗŇG' ¥ØỮ ŦĦƗŞ ĦỮǤŦØ Ş€€ ¥ØỮ ŦĦŘØỮǤĦ ¥ØỮŘ ĐΔ¥*`'`« ҉ »~"˜ `.¸Ɨ HOPE ITŴƗŁŁ β€ ŞỮŘ€ ŦØ Ř€ΔĆĦ ¥ØỮ
ƸӜƷ•.¸¸.•´ ... (◕‿◕)¸.•*""*•.¸

Wednesday, December 3, 2014

Hestia Goddess

Hestia Goddess-
The Beautiful Goddess Hestia 
Good Day my dear Friends & Followers, for today I am going to bring you all into the world of the Olympians by way of the Goddess Hestia. The Goddess of the Hearth or the fire burning of Hearth, it has said to be either way among the Gods of Olympians. She was regarded as one of the twelve great gods and she was another daughter of Kronus and Rhea. According to the Greek Mythology and the Olympians, the Goddess Hestia was the first born daughter of Rhea and therefore the first of the children that was swallowed by her father Kronus.  It seems that she was like Artemis and Athena, a Maiden Divinity and Goddess. From what I  find out, she was quite beautiful as all three sisters were - including herself, Hera and the Demeter too. It seems that she too had many suitors too. As Apollo and Poseidon had sued for her hand, however Hestia swore by her older brother Zeus to remain a virgin forever and in this character it was that her sacrifices consisted of only cows which were only one year old. I discovered that even thought the Goddess vowed that she would remain a virgin forever, she
The God Poseidon in which Goddess Hestia
and Poseidon are seen often at Mount Olympia
Still had connections with the powerful and known to be very handsome Apollo and Poseidon Gods of Olympus, which thus alluded to the legends of the Temple of Delphi where the three divinities were worshipped in common and Hestia and Poseidon did appeared together also at Mount Olympia. It seems besides the Mighty God of the Seas Poseidon - Hestia was often seen together with Hermes too; as a protecting the works of man.  I leads me to believe that Hestia was quite the Goddess and had many suitors both God and maybe even mortal. She sounds as if she was quite a beauty and even though she took the vow of chastity the Gods still loved to be around her.
As I dug a little deeper into the life of the beautiful Goddess Hestia I discovered that she was looked upon as the Hearth; as the sacred centre part of domestic life of both the Gods & their mortals. So it seems that Hestia was the Goddess of domestic life and the giver of all domestic happiness, blessing and as such she was believed to dwell in the inner part of every house to have invented the art of building houses. As the hearth of a house is at the same time the altar on which sacrifices are offered to the domestic Gods - Hestia was looked upon as presiding at all sacrifices. As the Goddess of all sacrifices of fire at the altar,
Goddess Hestia
She had a share in the sacrifices in all the temples of the Gods. Hence when any sacrifices were offered, Hestia was invoked first, and the first part of the sacrifice was always offered to the goddess. Solemn oaths were always sworn in by the Goddess of the hearth ~Hestia~ and the hearth itself was the sacred asylum where suppliants implored the protection of the inhabitants of the house. Basically The Goddess Hestia would always give protection to the homes of all the mortals at the time and give protection to all the inhabitants in the house too. She was also the Goddess that the mortals gave great offerings and sacrifices too to make sure their homes were safe. Hence by doing these great offerings and sacrifices the people would relieve solemn oaths sworn by the goddess of the Hearth and then all inhabitants of the house would be protected by her solemn oaths  and words... This could be extended to a town  or city too. Hence the people would likewise have a sacred hearth, the symbol of an harmonious community of citizens and of a common worship to their Goddess Hestia. There was another public hearth that exited in ancient Greece and these were called the Prytaneium in the center of town. This is where the Goddess had her especial sanctuary (thalamos), under the name of Prutanitis, with a statue and the sacred hearth too. This is where the prytanes would offer sacrifices to the Goddess and upon entering her private hearth Hestia would protect their suppliants. It seem that back in the day, as these public Hearth's were sacred in every town, so hence each state would receive their prytanes had all their sacrifices there too for the Goddess Hestia. When a colony was sent out, they always took the fire which burn in the sacred public Hearth with them, to their new home so that it would be blessed with the Goddess Hestia blessing.
Hestia Goddess
With a bit of Mysticism
 
guests from foreign ambassadors there, plus the
If ever the fire of the public hearth became extinct, it was not allowed to be light again with  ordinary fire, but by either fire produced by friction or by burning glasses drawing fire from the sun. Some have speculated in the ancients that the Goddess Hestia could be in someways like that of a divinity such as Gaea or her sister Demeter. Hence being the universe or the centre of the earth hearth in a mystical form of Warmth... As far as special temples that were just make
for the Greek Goddess Hestia, it seems that every Prytaneum was a sanctuary of the Beautiful Goddess. And it seems that all temples in Greece give a portion to the
goddess whatever the divinity they may offered it too, they all belong to her. She may have been a quiet and home body of goddess... However, she was an powerful Goddess and she was beloved by all the people of Greece in the ancient times.. Plus I believe she was also loved and respected by many of the Olympians too. I HOPE THAT YOU ALL
ENJOYED THE POST ON THE GODDESS HESTIA.. I WILL BE DOING MORE ON THE DIFFERENT  GODS AND GODDESS TOO. LOVE YOU ALL VERY  MUCH YOUR WENDY HUGGGG...
Hestia Goddess
Hestia Goddess
Hestia Goddess

Hestia Goddess
Hestia Goddess
Hestia Goddess
Hestia Goddess

Hestia Goddess
Hestia Goddess

"(✿◠‿◠YOURWENDY
¨´`'*°☆.❥•♪♫♥.(:♥(◡‿◡)♥i❤*☆҉♡☆*☆҉❤
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`•.¸ŦĦØỮǤĦ ¥ØỮ'Ř€ ALL ARE ₣ΔŘ ΔŴΔ¥
•´☆ ŦĦƗŞ ŞР€ĆƗΔŁ HUG FULL
OF LOVE & JOY IS FROM YOUR WENDY
¸¸.☆♥(◡‿◡)♥✫¨´`'*°☆.❥•♪♫♥.
(:♥(◡‿◡)♥i❤*☆҉♡☆❤❤❤♪♫♪❤❤♪❤*☆҉
❤❤♪❤❤♪♫♪❤❤♪❤❤♪♫♪❤❤❤❤♪♫♪❤❤♪❤❤♪♫♪
*☆*°°﹒☆҉☆¸ \( °‿°)/ ☆҉☆¸.✿¸¸.•´¨¯`'•⋆❥⋆❀´¸ ✿ღڪےڰۣ✿✿ڪےڰۣ✿✿ڪےڰۣ✿✿ڪے❤
`"(✿◠‿◠)˙•
٠•●Celibate life♥´Magic Surrounds Us☆҉☆ƸӜƷ ♪♫♪♫♪❤❤
ƸӜƷ•.¸¸.•´ ... ☾ ❤❤☼ღ(◕‿◕
)❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ƸӜƷ•❤❤❤☼ღ(◕‿◕.•*""*•.¸ƸӜƷ•.¸¸.•
I AM SO HAPPY YOU HAVE COME TO VISIT MY BLOG❤
I HOPE THAT I CAN MAKE YOU DAY FULL OF MAGICK
AND DREAMS FOR JUST THE BREIF TIME YOU ARE HEAR IN
MY WORLD OF MAGIC AND ENCHANTMENT/ LOVEYOU ALL MY
DEAR FREINDS AND FOLLOWERS. YOUR WENDY:O)
`'*°☆.❥•♪♫♥.(:♥(◡‿◡)♥i❤*☆҉♡☆*☆҉❤
S€ŇĐƗŇG' ¥ØỮ ŦĦƗŞ ĦỮǤŦØ Ş€€ ¥ØỮ ŦĦŘØỮǤĦ ¥ØỮŘ ĐΔ¥*`'`« ҉ »~"˜ `.¸Ɨ HOPE ITŴƗŁŁ β€ ŞỮŘ€ ŦØ Ř€ΔĆĦ ¥ØỮ
ƸӜƷ•.¸¸.•´ ... (◕‿◕)¸.•*""*•.¸

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