Winter days and candlelight stir nostalgic memories of past times at this time of year. A certain wistfulness arrives unbidden, along with the shorter, darker days of winter. This blog takes a look at some ancient traditions, a dip into Ednovean Farm, of course and a Christmas decorating project.
The simple pleasure of setting a candle on a window sill on a dull day; draping fairy lights to twinkle and glow and gathering pine cones on country walks. For now the candles seem to grow brighter and promise that it’s time to settle down to the art of wintering well.
Short winter days that stir memories
Those short winter days and long winter nights seem to tug at the edge of ancient memories and invite candle light to dispel the darkness and cheer the days.
The comfort of a glowing candle
The simple glow of flickering candles feels both comfortable and comforting now- although if you’ve stayed at Ednovean Farm, you will have found your spring or summer breakfast table bathed in candlelight too.
Yet candlelight in winter, brings a distinctly different atmosphere to a room.
A distant link to our old ways of life through traditions.
As the days grow shorter, so half remembered memories and traditions slowly emerge as we approach the Winter Solstice.
These early traditions kept alive in old folklores – perhaps with a candle instinctively placed in a window to cheer up a dull day, Yet formally this light might have represented a promise of safety for guardian spirits and signal a welcome.
In Scandinavian countries the youngest child might be given the honour of lighting the first candle. In Ireland and Scotland it is thought by some to represent the welcome for Mary and Joseph at Christmas time.
The recent celebration on the 13th of December of St Lucia* in Sweden, traces back, in part, to the ancient Norse winter solstice.
To this day young girls will wear a crown of candles and bring light and sweet rolls into the household.
*Santa Lucia was martyred in 304 AD when smuggling food to Christians hidden in the catacombs
Local traditions
In Penzance the festival of Montol will celebrate the winter solstice here on the 21st with masked dancers, music and bonfires. And of course the Christmas lights flicker and glow in the towns and villages throughout Cornwall too now. Do visit Mousehole lights if you are in Cornwall in the wintertime with the sparkle of Christmas and the salty tang of the sea in the air!
The Cornish midwinter traditions hark to the Old Christmas* with costume, music and dance as they are throughout the country. The Celtic myths of the eternal battle of the seasons between the Holly King and The Oak King. A never ending battle that’s fought each year. For now he Holly King has been triumphant at the Autumn equinox as the days shorten and earth rests. Yet his power will wane. Soon it’ll be The Winter Equinox and the Oak King will stir to reclaim the light and garland the earth with green shoots.
https://ednoveanfarm.co.uk/the-ednovean-farm-diary/winter/
More about our home at Ednovean Farm.
Our home was converted from a 17th century barn over 30 years ago and throughout the process we wanted to preserve the rustic integrity of the building.
We’ve used found objects with locally sourced recycled stone and flagstones throughout our home and B&B to make it intrinsically personal to its roots above Mounts Bay.
Combination of old and new
Old houses are particularly nurturing in the wintertime with the furnishings telling their own story. The Country Style Interiors combine layers of their history built over time with love.
Here a late Georgian sideboard – (this years renovation project) is combined with modern lamps and local art in one of our breakfast rooms.
A Christmas project
Finally let me share a simple Christmas project – a centrepiece that I made for our guests breakfast table. However because of the closeness of the leaves, I did use fairy lights for safety!
I used an inherited dolphin fruit bowl rescued from the loft. The silver plate had long since departed. However! A little gilding wax sparsely brushed over the raised details, brought it back to life but still left its pleasing patina of a life well lived. If you’ve nothing suitable, a trawl through charity and vintage shops should yield a likely candidate!
Building the decoration
A round oasis with a plastic base, well soaked overnight, proved a perfect fit for the bowl. (I weighed ours down with a stone as they have a tendency to float!) Finally select the greenery – I used sprigs of scented Bay from the garden. Rotate the bowl and pushing the stems into the oasis with each turn until the base is covered. To finish, I added battery operated fairy lights, hiding the unit amongst the leaves! Voila! A perfectly portable easily refreshed table decoration.
Christmas is beckoning now and I hope that my next blog will be happy glimpse behind the green baize curtain at Ednovean Farm.
The phone still rings in the winter with a new booking for the spring and summer, so hurry if you have a date in mind for a special holiday. Easter has already been taken!
Our unique Bed and Breakfast rooms each come with their very own breakfast room – with candle light of course!
Until then happy Christmas list making to you….. mince pies, cranberry jelly, crackers and a Christmas Tree!!
Discover more from Ednovean Farm
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
