I'm back with a new season of Let's Celebrate! But I have completely stripped down the holidays to the core, gathering in community, loving each other and ourselves, and really intentionally and ritually living with the seasons. Join me in my inaugural Spring Equinox episode of Season 3 of Let's Celebrate! Being Human. And let's learn what it truly means to celebrate this crazy, communal human experience together!

This episode we are celebrating Jul or Yule. The ancient pagan winter festival that currently corresponds to our modern day Christmas and the winter solstice. The CeLibation for this episode is a Traditional Swedish GloggFor this CeLibation you need: 1 bottle of red wine1 cinnamon sticks1 tsp cardamom1 tsp ginger ½ orange zest6 whole cloves½ orange peel, hollowed out½ cup rum½ cup sugaroptional:​​1/2 cup blanched whole almonds½ cup raisinsTo make a mocktail/alcohol free glogg you can either replace the red wine with an alcohol free red wine or a mixture of about 500 ml of pomegranate juice and 250 ml of apple juice, and omit the rum. (***Fire warning, be very careful. don’t do this around flammable things.don’t say i didn’t warn you.***) 1. Put the cinnamon stick, cardamom, ginger, and cloves in a mesh bag or cheesecloth.2. If you are using the almonds and raisins Place them in a pot and pour the bottle of wine or juice over it and add the satchel of spices, turn heat to med-low3. Cut an orange or mandarin in half, remove the orange sections and leave the peel intact to make a little cup. Place it on top of a small fireproof glass to keep it stable and pour the rum inside the orange peel. Set the rum on fire. Once the fire is going well, slowly sprinkle the sugar over the flames to let the sugar caramelize, I added a little cinnamon to my sugar for a little pyrotechnics show for my own amusement.4. Once you’ve added all the sugar, add the flaming mixture into the caldron. I actually used both halves of the mandarin and did this step in 2 parts. Pouring the flaming mixture is the dangerous part of this recipe, so be sure to do this away from anything flammable, especially yourself. Please don’t burn your house or yourself trying to make this recipe. You can also set the alcohol on fire inside a fire proof container that is deep enough that the liquid and fire won’t spill out5. Don’t let it reach a boil, keep it at a low simmer for approx 5-10 mins to let the flavors meld together. Keep warm on a very low heat.Serve in a mug with a few of the almonds and raisins at the bottom of the mug. This is a quintessential winter cocktail. With the traditional warming spices and the red wine, it’s guaranteed to warm you this holiday season.References:https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5cf13a3790353a0001051a77/t/674dfbe8676dad6c86986f11/1733164008411/10+Ways+to+Rest+and+Restore.jpghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yulehttps://www.ameyacohen.com/yulebundle?mc_cid=7498def295&mc_eid=100d500f10https://blogs.transparent.com/swedish/swedish-jul-a-christian-tradition-with-pagan-roots/https://www.bivrost.com/jul-a-nordic-christmas-pt-1-the-ancient-sun-feast/https://www.nationaldaycalendar.com/national-day/yule-day-of-winter-solsticehttps://www.mabonhouse.co/new-blog/qy6omkl21xbdjj0m8b1b2eh6361uif?ss_source=sscampaigns&ss_campaign_id=6759ba47e4a67e508f55e127&ss_email_id=675aecc1548d23453bbc58aa&ss_campaign_name=New+Yule+Printable+and+a+new+hobby&ss_campaign_sent_date=2024-12-12T14%3A02%3A45Z

In this episode we are celebrating Samhain, the last of the 3 harvest festivals in the wheel of the year, marking the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter. This holiday is more modernly refered to as Halloween. Listen to learn more about the history, it's evolution, and how you can incorporate old traditions into your new celebrations.

The CeLibation for this episode is a Pomegranate Daiquiri in honor of Persephone's descent into the underworld.

• 2 oz coconut rum
• 1 oz red vermouth
• 1 oz pomegranate juice

Shake, strain into glass

For the mocktail option:

• 2 oz. coconut water
• 2 oz. pomegranate juice

Shake with ice, strain into martini glass

References:

Death Makes a Holiday: A Cultural History of Halloween by  ⁠David J. Skal⁠ https://www.amazon.com/Death-Makes-Holiday-Cultural-Halloween/dp/158234230X

⁠https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/samhain⁠

⁠https://www.babyquip.com/blog/spooky-history-of-halloween?utm_term=&utm_campaign=Search-International-Mexico_Generic&utm_source=adwords&utm_medium=ppc&gclid=CjwKCAjw-KipBhBtEiwAWjgwrDX3cvhql2Now9oCTQLXNBm3T59lxEuWNW9eoDscKICCwZ8KBURBPhoC7ekQAvD_BwE⁠

⁠https://blogs.loc.gov/headlinesandheroes/2021/10/the-origins-of-halloween-traditions/#:~:text=Yet%2C%20the%20Halloween%20holiday%20has,costumes%20to%20ward%20off%20ghosts⁠.

⁠https://www.history.com/topics/halloween/history-of-halloween⁠

⁠https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halloween⁠

⁠https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samhain⁠

⁠https://www.countryliving.com/entertaining/a40250/heres-why-we-really-celebrate-halloween/⁠

⁠https://www.britannica.com/story/why-do-we-celebrate-halloween⁠⁠https://celticranch.com/blogs/celtic-culture/lughnasa#:~:text=Lughnasa%20is%20the%20first%20of,all%20%E2%80%93%20Samhain%20on%20October%2031⁠.

In this episode we're diving into the Autumnal Equinox Festival modernly known as Mabon. It may or may not be as ancient as some people believe. Listen to the entire episode to learn more about the 2nd harvest festival of the year.

The CeLibation for this episode is a Pumpkin Spice Latte Martini

• 3 oz. strong coffee or espresso
• 2 oz. milk of choice
• 1 oz. pumpkin spice simple syrup
• shot of vodka or rum
• ice

shake all ingredients together and strain into glass.

For a mocktail version omit the alcohol for an iced pumpkin spice latte. You can always strain it into a martini glass as well to feel more festive.

References:

https://www.juliebatchos.com/resources/2022920-6zx4wxytf3b5a5y0tknd8nq3gum6lr

https://mysticbrilliance.com/how-to-celebrate-mabon/

https://www.outdoorapothecary.com/celebrating-mabon/

https://dailydish.co.uk/a-mabon-celebration-rituals-blessings/

https://greenwitchfarm.com/mabon-celebrate-harvest/

https://www.ohmterra.com/articles/everything-you-need-to-know-about-mabon

Welcome to this episode where we're diving into the vibrant celebration of Lughnasadh, also known as Lammas. This is the 1st of the 3 harvest festivals of the Wheel of the Year holidays. Lughnasadh marks the first of the three harvest festivals in the Wheel of the Year holidays, a time-honored tradition that connects us to the cycles of nature and the bounty of the Earth. Listen now to learn more about this celebration, it's history and traditions, and how you can celebrate Lughnasadh in 2024.

The CeLibation for this episode is 

A Honey Basil Gimlet

For this celibation you need:

• ½ oz Honey Basil Syrup

(Blend together 1 cup basil leaves, ½ cup water, ½ cup honey, and a pinch of sea salt and strain)

• 2 oz. gin
• 1 oz. lime juice
• ice 

Add gin, lime juice and syrup to ice in a shaker. Shake, strain, and enjoy.

***For a mocktail, replace the gin with sparkling water.***

References:

https://www.ask-angels.com/spiritual-guidance/how-to-celebrate-lughnasadh/

https://www.mabonhouse.co/lughnasadh

https://www.zoryawellness.com/post/lammas-pagan-holiday-how-to-celebrate-lammas-10-simple-ideas

https://magickalspot.com/lammas/

https://www.thewholesomewitch.com/lammas-lughnasadh-activities/

https://ravynwood.com/celebrating-lammas/

https://morella-ulalume.com/celebrating-lammas-lughnasadh/

https://www.almanac.com/quarter-days-and-cross-quarter-days

https://bycagla.com/lammas-celebration/

https://nationaltoday.com/lughnasadh/

https://druidry.org/druid-way/teaching-and-practice/druid-festivals/lughnasadh

https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Lughnasadh

https://www.irishcentral.com/culture/lughnasa-celtic-festival-traditions

https://www.vercida.com/uk/articles/celebrating-lughnasadh

https://youtu.be/ygEQB4V_GTU

https://steemit.com/food/@sangeeta/lunastain-bread

http://www.crystalwind.ca/find-your-way/neopagan-path/tools-of-the-craft/how-to-make-corn-dollies

https://nationaltoday.com/lammas-day/

https://www.almanac.com/fact/lammas-day-from-the-old-english-holiday

https://www.bpl.org/blogs/post/the-origins-and-practices-of-lammas-lughnasad/

https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/activities/view.cfm?id=462

http://www.annafranklin.co.uk/page48.html

https://www.thenational.scot/news/19511595.burrymans-day-people-south-queensferry-mark/

In this episode, we’re celebrating the Summer Solstice AKA Midsummer or Litha! Listen to learn more.

The CeLibation for this episode is a Plum Rum CeLibation

• 2 oz Rum
• ½ oz Agave syrup
• Juice from half a lime 
• Juice from half an orange
• 2 ripe plum, pitted with skin
• 1 oz water

Add all ingredients to blender, strain over ice in a champagne coupe. 

For a mocktail, omit the rum and add 2 more oz of water, you can still pour it into a champagne coupe so you feel extra fancy. 

Resources: 

https://www.almanac.com/content/first-day-summer-summer-solstice

https://www.timeanddate.com/astronomy/moon/strawberry.html

https://www.almanac.com/quarter-days-and-cross-quarter-days

https://www.bpl.org/blogs/post/the-origins-and-practices-of-litha/

https://www.mabonhouse.co/litha

https://www.mabonhouse.co/new-blog/litha-traditions-and-rituals

https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/discover/history/history-of-summer-solstice-traditions

https://thebusypagan.com/pagan-holidays/litha/

https://www.mabonhouse.co/new-blog/a-history-of-litha-and-midsummers-night

https://www.mabonhouse.co/new-blog/a-history-of-litha-and-midsummers-night

https://www.cerdeirahomeforcreativity.com/our-blog/2023/06/09-litha-celebrating-radiance-midsummer

https://www.outdoorapothecary.com/strawberry-moon/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holly_King_and_Oak_King

https://www.britishcouncil.cn/en/shakespearelives/science/lovepotions#:~:text=One%20of%20Shakespeare's%20most%20famous,wild%20pansy%20(Viola%20tricola).

https://www.tribal-wisdom.org/page/1025/soltstice-traditions#:~:text=Traditionally%2C%20Midsummer%20is%20celebrated%20with,day%20in%20the%20solar%20calendar.

https://www.guidememalta.com/en/experience-the-amazing-equinox-phenomena-at-hagar-qim-mnajdra-temples

https://cyberleninka.ru/article/n/a-prehistoric-native-american-pictograph-that-signals-the-summer-solstice/viewer

References: 

IMBOLC / CANDLEMAS (February 2) (Cross-quarter, Fire Festival)

OSTARA / SPRING EQUINOX (March 20-23) (Quarter Festival, Equinox)

BEALTAINE / MAY DAY (May 1) (Cross-quarter, Fire Festival)

LITHA / MIDSUMMER / SUMMER SOLSTICE (June 20-23) (Quarter Festival, Solstice)

LUGHNASADH / LAMMAS (August 1) (Cross-quarter, Fire Festival)

MABON / AUTUMN EQUINOX (September 20-23) (Quarter Festival, Equinox)

SAMHAIN (October 31) (Cross-quarter, Fire Festival)

YULE / MIDWINTER / WINTER SOLSTICE (December 20-23) (Quarter Festival, Solstice)

https://www.dingledruid.com/general-5#:~:text=The%20Celtic%20Wheel%20of%20the%20Year%20comprises%20eight%20festivals%20spaced,fall%20around%20the%20same%20dates.

https://thecelticjourney.wordpress.com/the-celts/wheel-of-the-year/

The CeLibation for this episode is a

Frozen Mango Rum CeLibation

For this CeLibation you need

*3 cubes of frozen mango puree about 2-3 oz. 

*Juice from ½ a lime

*1 oz of rum

*Sparkling water

*Tajin

Add the frozen mango puree, lime juice, rum, and sparkling water in a blender and blend until smooth, rim your glass with a lime wedge and dip in tajin and garnish with a lime wedge.

If you want a mocktail celebration you can omit the rum and add 2 oz of orange or apple juice.

References:

https://www.bpl.org/blogs/post/the-origins-and-practices-of-holidays-beltane-and-the-last-day-of-ridvan/

https://beltane.org/about-beltane/

https://www.mentalfloss.com/posts/beltane-may-day-festival-facts

https://www.theseasonalsoul.com/what-is-beltane/

https://wemoon.ws/blogs/pagan-holiday-traditions/beltane

https://www.outdoorapothecary.com/how-to-celebrate-beltane/

https://www.storyhouse.org/eva8.html

https://www.learnreligions.com/the-legend-of-the-may-queen-2561660

https://beltane.org/2012/02/19/may-queen-and-green-man/#:~:text=The%20May%20Queen%20embodies%20purity,cannot%20exist%20without%20each%20other.

https://meaganrosewilson.com/2021/04/beltane/

https://www.thornandclaw.com/blogs/news/how-to-celebrate-beltane

https://thefoldmag.com/wellness/the-wheel-of-the-year-celebrating-beltane

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maypole

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beltane

The Spring Equinox has been celebrated since prehistoric times as a sacred time of the year. This is a time when day and night come back into balance. In this episode I discuss the history behind Spring Equinox festivals all over the world, how the people before us celebrated it, how it evolved into the holiday it is now, and I discuss how people have been reconnecting and celebrating the Spring Equinox now and how we can incorporate these new and old traditions to celebrate a new way.

To make this CeLibation you need:

• 1 egg white

• 3 oz. gin

• ¾ oz lime juice

• ½ oz hibiscus simple syrup

• 1 cup water

• 1 cup sugar

• ¾ cup dried hibiscus flowers

• Simmer the sugar and water until the sugar dissolves, add the hibiscus and simmer for 15 mins, take off the heat and let cool for 20 mins

• To make the celibation; add all the ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice and shake really hard for 30 secs to get the egg white to create a froth.

• You can omit the egg white if you are vegan or if you aren’t into egg whites in your beverages, you’re celebration just won’t have a frothy top layer.

• For a mocktail CeLibation, you can make the hibiscus simple syrup and add it to ginger ale along with the lime juice, to get the pine-y gin flavors you can add some rosemary or juniper berries if you can find them with the hibiscus flowers when you’re making the simple syrup. 

  
  

  References: 

  OSTARA / SPRING EQUINOX (March 20-23) (Quarter Festival, Equinox)

  https://sugarandcharm.com/easy-hibiscus-gin-sour?section-1

  https://bewitchedesthetics.com/ostara/

  https://thenewpagan.wordpress.com/ostara-spring-equinox/

  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nowruz

  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vernal_Equinox_Day

  https://thesynergycompany.com/blogs/news/spring-equinox-celebrations-around-the-world

  https://flaar-mesoamerica.org/2023/03/23/the-spring-equinox-its-importance-within-the-mayan-culture/

  https://writualplanner.com/blogs/news/what-is-ostara-and-ways-to-celebrate-it?tw_source=google&tw_adid=&tw_campaign=19829447984&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAopuvBhBCEiwAm8jaMRf7pzHNDRMld-Ej-UOgTvNcN5bF4wUog8M876j4kmzfMJ7TBwRQTxoCZX0QAvD_BwE

  https://www.learnreligions.com/ostara-rites-and-rituals-2562469

  https://www.learnreligions.com/ostara-rites-and-rituals-2562469

  https://www.patheos.com/blogs/aidankelly/2017/05/naming-ostara-litha-mabon/

  https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/equinox/

  https://druidry.org/druid-way/teaching-and-practice/druid-festivals/spring-equinox-alban-eilir

  https://www.learnreligions.com/history-of-ostara-the-spring-equinox-2562485

  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cybele

  https://britishheritage.com/stonehenge-spring-equinox

  https://www.arkansasstateparks.com/events/spring-equinox-sunset-tour/74579551

  https://www.theirishjewelrycompany.com/blog/post/celtic-mythology-and-the-spring-equinox-a-time-of-renewal-and-rebirth#:~:text=Another%20common%20tradition%20during%20the,seeds%2C%20both%20literally%20and%20metaphorically.

  
  

For the second season of Let's Celebrate: A Holiday Origins Podcast I will be researching and celebrating  the Celtic Wheel of the Year holidays. The first of which is Imbolc, the midpoint between the winter solstice and the spring equinox.

In this episode I discuss the history behind it, how the people before us celebrated it, how it evolved into the holiday it is now, and I discuss how people have been reconnecting to Imbolc and how we can incorporate these traditions to celebrate these old holidays in a new way.

The CeLibation for this episode is a Flowers in Winter CeLibation, inspired by Imbolc as the midpoint between the winter solstice and the spring equinox, with the floral flavors of chamomile to symbolize the coming spring and the burning cinnamon to symbolize both the sun's return and the winter’s flame coming to an end and the citrus is the all seasonal flavor to bring them together. 

To make this CeLibation you need:

• 2 oz. Rum

• Juice from 1/4 lime

• 1/4 cup cinnamon-chamomile tea

• Garnish with a smoking cinnamon stick; you can either extinguish it in your drink for a smoky infusion, or stick it ember-up and inhale the Christmas-time scent as you sip

• For a mocktail make a chamomile tea, sweeten as you like, squeeze in the lemon or lime juice, chill or pour over ice and exchange the sparkling wine for sparkling water or ginger ale. And you can garnish with the smoking cinnamon stick for that winter flare.

References: 

https://m.economictimes.com/news/international/us/imbolc-how-to-celebrate-the-festival-which-marks-the-end-of-winter/articleshow/97527840.cms#

https://www.mabonhouse.co/imbolc

https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/imbolc

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brigid%27s_cross#Citations

https://www.newgrange.com/imbolc.htm

https://druidry.org/druid-way/teaching-and-practice/druid-festivals/imbolc

https://druidry.org/resources/imbolc-a-solo-ritual

https://www.homesandgardens.com/life-design/sound-cleansing

https://solasbhride.ie/the-perpetual-flame/

https://brigidine.org.au/about-us/our-patroness/brigids-light-fire/

https://religionmediacentre.org.uk/factsheets/factsheet-the-festival-of-imbolc/