BOGOF

Grow your own drugs for the Hairy Biker's Twelve Days of Christmas

Two festive frivolities to watch on BBC 2 tonight. First there's Grow You Own Drugs for Christmas at 8.00pm with ethnobotanist James Wong concocting a Victorian hangover cure (amongst other things)...


And then at 9.00pm it's The Hairy Bikers' Twelve Days of Christmas, in which Dave Myers and Si King create an array of seasonal dishes that reinterpret the classic Christmas song...

On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me... twelveTwelfth Night traditions!

Twelfth Night is traditionally the time to take down your Christmas tree and any other festive decorations. To leave evergreens up in the house after this point is to bring bad luck on the household!

Here are some other Twelfth Night traditions that you might - or might not - be familiar with.

1) Twelfth Night is also known as Epiphany, the date on which the Christian Church celebrates the visit of the Magi to the Christ child.

2) The feast of the Epiphany originated in the East during the third century, in honour of Christ’s baptism.

3) During a special service held at St James’s Palace, London, on 6 January, members of the Royal Household present the Chapel Royal with the three gifts brought to the Christ child by the Magi.

4) At one time, the highlight of the Twelfth Night celebrations was the cutting of the twelfth-cake, which was supposed to have a dried pea or bean hidden somewhere inside it. Whoever found the bean was proclaimed king or queen for the rest of the evening’s fun and frivolity.

5) Another tradition involving a cake, upheld by the cast of the play currently being performed at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, is the eating of the Baddeley Cake. This is as a result of a stipulation made in the last will and testament of one Robert Baddeley, an actor from the eighteenth century, after whom the cake is named.

6) In the West of England Twelfth Night is the time when wassailing ceremonies are carried out.

7) At one time in England, Twelfth Night was known as being a good occasion on which to carry out various good luck rituals, as well as for its religious processions which almost went hand-in-hand with the spirited, and good humoured, revels.

8) One such ritual had farmers lighting bonfires to drive evil spirits away from their farms and fields, the tipsy agriculturalists cheering as they circled the fires to hasten the hobgoblins on their way.

9) There was also the time-honoured guessing game, whereby the (now probably inebriated) farmer had to guess what was being roasted in the kitchen before being permitted to re-enter his own home. This was not as easy as it might sound because his good wife might have something as ridiculously inedible as a shoe turning on the spit.

11) On 6 January you would also find Morris men dancing in the streets, along with fools and hobby-horses.

12) Practical jokes were the name of the game on Twelfth Night and the playing of games – particularly games of chance – with everyone determined to make the most of the last day of the holiday season.

So if you're planning to see Christmas out with a bang...

Love and joy come to you,
And to you your wassail too,
And God bless you, and send you
A happy New Year,
And God send you
A happy New Year.

On the eleventh day of Christmas, my true love sent to me... eleventh hour preparations for Twelfth Night!

Tomorrow - 6 January - is the Feast of the Epiphany (when the Christian Church commemorates the visit of the Magi to the Christ child) and hence, Twelfth Night.
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From the time of William Conqueror up until the start of the seventeenth century, the feast of the Epiphany was celebrated much more lavishly than Christmas Day. Having taken down the Christmas cards and decorations for another year, Twelfth Night presented one last opportunity for a knees-up, the highlight being the cutting of the twelfth-cake.
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The traditional Twelfth Night cake was supposed to have a dried pea or bean hidden somewhere inside it. Whoever found the bean was proclaimed king or queen for the rest of the evening’s fun and frivolity. It then became their responsibility to announce the toasts and lead everyone else in the drinking that ensued. However, some kings and queens also earned themselves the responsibility of covering the bill the next day. In time, the bean became a silver sixpence which was cooked inside the Christmas pudding rather than the cake.
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If you fancy making your own Twelfth-Cake in preparation for tomorrow's festivities, why not try this recipe for yourself?

Twelfth-Cake

175 g/6 oz flour
175 g/6 oz butter
175 g/6 oz sugar
3 eggs
3 tbs brandy
340 g/12 oz currants
40 g/1½ oz flaked almonds
25 g/1 oz orange and lemon peel, finely chopped
1 tbs honey
1 tsp of vinegar

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Soften the butter and add to the sugar and cream in a mixing bowl. Cream the mixture until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well; also add a tablespoon of flour to stop them curdling. Pour in the brandy, followed by the flour and then the spices. Fold them all in, keeping the mixture light and airy. Lastly stir in the currants, almonds, peel and honey. Then mixture needs to be poured into a prepared cake tin which is when you can also add a pea or bean, if you wish (but do not use a kidney bean as if it is undercooked it can prove toxic!). Bake for two hours until the cake has browned on top.


You can this recipe, and others like it, in What is Myrrh Anyway? which is still available from all good bookshops.

On the tenth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me... the top ten Christmas toys!

So now that the dust from the festive season has settled, I bet you're wondering what the Top Ten toys of Christmas 2008 were - aren't you? Well to find out, click here.

On the eighth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me... eight maids a-swimming!

Some people believe that the carol ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas’ is one of the so-called catechism songs, with the list of gifts acting as a coded message to represent significant elements of the Catholic catechism.

In this case, the eight maids a-milking stand for the eight beatitudes mentioned by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount, as follows:

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

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Blessed are the meek: for they shall posses the land.

Blessed are they who mourn: for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice: for they shall have their fill.

Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

Blessed are the clean of heart: for they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice's sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

However, for some the eight maids a-milking address two of the major themes of fifteenth and sixteenth century English celebrations and parties during the Christmas holidays – those of food and romance.

Until the advent of refrigeration, milk was not a common drink because it spoiled quickly. However, milk based products that did not spoil, such as cheese, sour milk and custards were prized treats. Cheese and sour milk are the result of processes that expose milk to so-called friendly bacteria which convert the milk to a state where it can be preserved for a longer period and is also tasty. Custard is similar but this involves the cooking of the milk, which kills the harmful bacteria thereby extending the period during which it can be safely consumed.

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The maids, of course, refer to the women who would milk the cows to obtain the milk in the first place. In times past, the milking of cows or goats was typically a job for women. However, the term maid is also the shortened form of maiden which is a young, unmarried, woman. By combining the images of maiden and milk, it is easy to see how this particular gift possibly has more to do with romance than with cows!

On the seventh day of Christmas, my true love also sent to me... the top seven new year's resolutions!

And here they are:

1) Lose weight and get fit.

2) Quit drinking.

3) Quit smoking.

4) Enjoy life more.

5) Spend more time with family and friends.

6) Find a better job.

7) Learn something new.

Sound familiar? And the next three on the list are:

8) Volunteer and help others.

9) Get organised.

10) Get out of debt.

Oh, and on that note - Happy New Year!

On the seventh day of Christmas, my true love sent to me... seven swans a-swimming!

Before the arrival of the turkey in the British Isles, poultry was already an important part of the Christmas menu. There were, after all, plenty of native British birds to dine upon, everything from peacock, plover and pheasant to capons, woodcock and swan!

Roast swan, was a popular dish among the aristocracy that was presented as if the bird were still alive, sitting up on the platter just waiting to be eaten. There were many different ways of preparing and serving swan, and here's just one of them:

Roast swan

1 swan
Olive oil

First clean and gut your swan, then cover the outside of the bird with olive oil. Roast it on a spit or, failing that, in the oven. Baste frequently with its own juice and when it is done carve and serve in pieces.

However, before heading off down to the local butcher’s to ask for swan, you should bear in mind that all swans are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act of 1981. The mute swan is even better protected because the species is owned by the Crown, and has been ever since 1482. A small number of shooting licences are granted to farmers each year, if they can prove that swans have damaged their crops, but in all other cases it is an offence to be in possession of a swan carcass, even if the bird died of natural causes!

On the sixth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me... six New Year's Eve traditions!

New Zealand and Australia have already welcomed in the New Year but people in the UK are still preparing themselves for the arrival of 2009.

You may well be planning to party in the New Year or carry out some familiar traditions - such as sing 'Auld Lang Syne' - so, to get you thinking, here are six familiar ways of welcoming in the New Year.

1) Watch Night

Many religious communities have a tradition of New Year's Eve being known as 'Watch Night'. The faithful of the community congregate to worship at services that commence on New Year's Eve night and which continue past midnight into the New Year. The Watch Night is a time for giving thanks for the blessings of the outgoing year and praying for divine favour during the upcoming year.

2) The Edinburgh Cannon

In Edinburgh the cannon is fired at Edinburgh Castle at the stroke of midnight.

3) Hogmanay

Scotland celebrates New Year as Hogmanay, which is the Scots word for the last day of the year. The roots of Hogmanay reach back to the celebration of the winter solstice among the Norse, as well as incorporating customs from the Gaelic New Year's celebration of Samhain.

4) Auld Lang Syne

The Hogmanay custom of singing 'Auld Lang Syne' has become common in many countries. 'Auld Lang Syne' is a traditional poem reinterpreted by Robert Burns, which was later set to music. It is now common for this to be sung in a circle of linked arms that are crossed over one another as the clock strikes midnight for New Year's Day. In Scotland the traditional practice is to cross arms only for the last verse.

5) First Footing

The practice of 'first-footing' starts immediately after midnight, and involves being the first person to cross the threshold of a friend or neighbour's house, and often involves the giving of symbolic gifts such as salt, coal, shortbread, whisky, and black bun (a type of rich fruit cake) intended to bring different kinds of luck to the householder.

6) New Year's Resolutions

It is also customary to make New Year's resolutions, which individuals hope to fulfil in the coming year. The most popular resolutions in the West include to stop smoking or drinking, lose weight or get physically fit. What will you give up (or take up) for 2009?

However you're planning to see in the New Year, I would like to wish you all a very happy 2009!

On the fifth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me... five gooold rings!

Did you know...?

The original, traditional version of the carol The Twelve Days of Christmas, does not contain the famous theme 'Five Gooold Rings'.

A man called Frederic Austin changed the way people sang the line 'Five gold rings' to the version we know now, and this version of the line - but only this one line, out of the whole carol - is still copyrighted today.

So if you played or sang 'Five Gooold Rings' over Christmas this year, you owe Novello & Co some money!

On the fourth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me... four festive clippings!

For those of you who missed it, What is Mrryh Anyway? appeared in the national press on various occasions in the run-up to Christmas. Here are some of the highlights!

What is Myrrh Anyway? in the Daily Express

What is Myrrh Anyway? in the Daily Star

What is Myrrh Anyway? in the Sunday Post

What is Myrrh Anyway? in the Daily Record

On the third day of Christmas, my true love sent to me... three altervative recipes for Turkey!

It's quite possible that even by 28 December you still have some turkey left over from Christmas Day and you're not sure what to do with it, to make it just that little bit... well... different. Well here are three ideas from the incomparable Mrs Beeton.

Croquettes of Turkey

Turkey Soup

Fricasseed Turkey

On the second day of Christmas, my true love sent to me... two oranges stuck with cloves!

Last night I tried out one of the recipes from What is Myrrh Anyway? on a group of family and friends who were round for Christmas Eve dinner. And even if I do say so myself it was very well received, and tasted pretty good too.

So, if you fancy a taste of Bishop's Wine, here's the recipe from the book, along with a few visual aids. (NB - I made double the quantity, which is why there's double the ingredients in all the photographs.)

Bishop’s Wine

1 bottle of red wine
1 orange stuck with cloves
1 cinnamon stick
The peel of 1 lemon
Sugar to taste

Place the clove stuck orange in a large pan; add the red wine and leave to steep for half a day. During this time the wine will take on the flavours of the orange and cloves.

Then you need to add the other ingredients together and simply warm the whole lot through half an hour before serving.

Last of all, enjoy in the company of friends and family.

On the first day of Christmas, my true love sent to me... a parakeet in a plane tree!

In the post-children's stockings pre-Christmas lunch lull yesterday, the Green family and associated hangers on went for a walk in the local park, where we saw this...

... sorry... this!

A parakeet in a plane tree!

Of course, in the original Twelve Days of Christmas, on the first day of Christmas the young woman who countdowns the bizarre list of presents receives a partridge in a pear tree. Or did she?

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To find out more about the possible meaning and origins of the carol The Twelve Days of Christmas just delve into your copy of What is Myrrh Anyway?

12 Days of Christmas Sale

Amazon.co.uk have started their own 12 Days of Christmas Sale a little early. If you're looking for some festive bargains for loved ones (or yourself) this year, then click here.

The countdown to Christmas has begun!

Yes, that's right, Christmas is almost here with the publication of What is Myrrh Anyway? this Thursday.

And to get you in the festive mood, this week I am going to be posting Christmas teasers, one for everyday until publication.

So, to get the ball rolling, here is an alternative take on the traditional carol, The Twelve Days of Christmas. Let merriment ensue.

Ho, ho, ho.