On This Day Before Thanksgiving, My Thanks To All Who Read And Follow My Blog ❤️

Hello again.  I hope this finds you all well, wherever you are!  Last week, for the first time in ages, I actually looked at my Blog Statistics ~ it really is amazing to see the Countries that have visited my Blog recently ~. most readers are from the USA (thank you America!), but also featured were Brazil, France, China, Ukraine, Canada, Germany, Spain, Luxembourg, and Russia!  I certainly mustn’t forget my friends here in my own Country 😊.  How those other Countries find this Blog, I have no idea, but thank you everyone. 

Also, I’ve just realised that the number of page views has just passed the 200,000 mark, which I suppose is quite an achievement in itself. 

When I start to write a post, I have no idea what the title is going to be ~ I just hope it will come to me as I muddle along!  Anyway, tomorrow, in the USA, it will be Thanksgiving Day, and I’m sure that, even as we speak, households throughout the land will be in a great state of flux, making sure that everything is ready for the great feast ahead, and if you have visitors arriving, perhaps a cleaning frenzy will also be going on. Hopefully your turkey isn’t still running around!  I’ve seen photos of tables laden with food, courtesy of Pinterest.com. I must say, I shall be feeling very envious of you tomorrow when I sit down to my bread and dripping ~ I jest. 

Then, of course, after a day when thanks is given for all that you have, Black Friday rears it’s ugly head!  A couple of years ago, here in England, we had never heard of Black Friday, but it seems to be another tradition that has found its way across the pond 😊.  It’s a bit like the Boxing Day Sales over here, the day after Christmas Day.  Personally, I can think of nothing worse than being pushed, shoved and jostled by a crowd of bargain hunters.  For a start, being fairly short, I would probably be trampled on!  

This Autumn, we have had some wonderful, mild, sunny days, when all the colours have been at their best, but, today, we have gale force winds blowing around, so very soon the trees will be bare once again.  Here are a few photos taken by me earlier in the week, whilst visiting a pretty little fishing village near here. 

So I will say cheerio from here in deepest Devon.  Don’t be afraid to leave a comment if you feel like it.  I’d love to hear from you, and this next pic is for all my many good friends spread throughout the United States. I’ll be thinking of you all ❤️

Mince Pies & Sherry, Mistletoe, all Christmas Traditions 🎅🏻

When I first told my American friends about mince pies at Christmas, a few years ago, they thought i was talking about meat pies!  Although these delicacies used to be filled with meat, such as lamb, they are now a sweet dish and filled with an assortment of dried fruit, with perhaps a hint of brandy. They are best served warm, in my humble opinion, and here in Devon, we serve them with a dollop of clotted cream. Yummy scrummy! 

 

 

I usually partake of a glass of sherry with mine, to really get me into the Christmas spirit. This is ideal for when you're writing your Christmas Cards or wrapping the presents, with Christmas music playing in the background. 

 

 

The mince pie in the photo is a tiny bite-sized one, but they are usually larger than that. I have tried all sorts of shop bought ones, but I much prefer the ones I make, using my own pastry. Here in the United Kindom, in the Stuart and Georgian times, mince pies were very much a status symbol at Christmas. Hard for us to imagine that now. Rich people would serve them to their guests in all sorts of different shapes. Having pies like this meant that you were very rich and had truly made it in the world, as you were able to afford the most expensive pastry cooks. 

Sometimes, when watching Downton Abbey and period dramas like that, I often think that I would like to have lived in those days, when sherry was served out of decanters and your clothes were all laid out for you. In truth, I fear I would have been the poor little housemaid, getting out of bed at 3.30 in the morning and cleaning out the grates, before the Lord of the Manor  came down for his breakfast in the morning!  Oh well, a girl can dream. 

On Christmas Eve, little children over here usually leave out a mince pie and  a glass of brandy, for Santa when he calls, along with a carrot for his reindeer. 

Another tradition at Christmas time is the hanging of mistletoe. Believe it or not, this tradition goes back to the days of the Druids - that is, long before I was a twinkle in my father's eye! It was supposed to bring good luck and ward off evil spirits. It was also used as a sign of love and friendship in Norse Mythology, and that's where the tradition of kissing under the mistletoe comes from. 

 

 

Mistletoe images courtesy of Pinterest.com

I hope all your preparations are going well for you at this very special time of the year, and I look forward to being with you again soon. Meanwhile, thank you so much for taking the time to drop in to read this Post. 

New Year's Eve Traditions from around the World

As it's New Years Eve today, I thought I would share some traditions from around the world to see how other Countries celebrate bringing in the new year.

In Austria, New Year's Eve is called Sylvesterabend, the eve of Saint Sylvester (never heard of him!) and a punch made of cinnamon, sugar and red wine is prepared in his honour.  On New Year's Day, dinner is a special occasion when roast pork is eaten, as pigs symbolize good luck.  Often the table is decorated with little miniature pigs, made of marzipan.

Austria



In Brazil, as part of the celebrations there, crowds wearing white gather on the Brazilian beaches to offer gifts to the Goddess of the water, Yemanja, floating flowers and candles out to sea, in the hope she will bring them good luck.  As the lentil is believed to signify wealth, the locals then eat lentil soup or lentils and rice on the first day of the new year.

Brazil

In Denmark it is a good sign to find a pile of broken dishes on your doorstep on the 1st day of January (must try that then!!).  Old dishes are saved throughout the year to throw at the doors of friends and neighbours on New Year's Eve.  Many broken dishes mean that you have many friends.  So there you are - I wish you many broken dishes this New Year's Eve!

Denmark

In Germany it was the custom to predict the future on New Year's Eve by dropping molten lead into cold water to see what shape it made.  A heart or ring shape meant a wedding, a ship a journey, and a pig meant plenty of food in the year ahead.  Well, I must remember to molt some lead this evening then!  It is also the custom to leave a little food on the plate until after midnight on New Year's Eve, as a way of ensuring a well-stocked larder in the year ahead.

Germany

In Hungary, a scarecrow like effigy, stuffed with paper, and known as Jack Straw, is said to embody the evil and misfortune of the past year.  He is carried around the village, before being burnt on New Year's Eve.

Hungary

The Japanese hang a rope  across the front of their houses to keep out evil spirits and bring happiness and good luck.  At midnight on the 31st December, Buddhist temples all over Japan ring their bells exactly 108 times to drive out the sins of the previous year.

Japan

The Portugese pick and eat twelve grapes from a bunch as the clock strikes twelve on New Year's Eve.  This is done to ensure twelve happy months in the year ahead.  In Northern Portugal, children go carolling from home to home and are given treats and coins.  They sing old songs, which are said to bring good luck.

Portugal

In Russia, when the Communist Party took power in 1917, they banned the open expression of religion and the celebration of Christmas.  In response, the people re-invented the New Year's Eve tradition to include a decorated tree, and introduced a character called Grandfather Frost, who looks very much like the western Santa Claus.  Today, Christmas is again celebrated, but New Year's Eve remains the bigger event, with feasting and the giving of gifts.

Russia

In Scotland, an old tradition that is still observed today, is that of the first footer.  The first person that sets foot in your home on New Year's Day decides the family's luck for the rest of the year.  The ideal guest brings a gift of bread or coal, to ensure there is no lack of food or warmth in the home for the rest of the year.



Scotland



In Taiwan, children who have left home return for dinner on New Year's Eve.  For those unable to make the journey, a table setting is placed to symbolize their presence in spirit, if not in body.  To ensure the arrival of good health and good luck in the new year, floors may not be swept on New Year's Day, or the bins emptied, for the fear of casting riches out of the door.

Taiwan

I can still remember my dear mum saying that we should never wash clothes on New Year's Day, as, if we did, we would wash our friends away.  To this day, I make sure that the washing machine is never on on New Year's Day.

I hope you have enjoyed reading about these traditions from around the world, and I shall raise a glass to all of you when the clock strikes twelve here in England this evening.