Monthly Archives: December 2017

For those of you who have never heard of Mulled Wine, this drink is a firm Christmas Holiday staple with it’s origins almost as old as time itself.

The drink was popularized during both the Middle Ages and Victorian Era in England, but versions of the drink can be traced back to the time of the Ancient Egyptians and Ancient Romans. The drink itself as it is enjoyed these days is a hot drink with a red wine base, ‘mulled’ (meaning brewed over heat) with citrus fruits and warming spices such as cinnamon, clove and black pepper, usually with a dash of brandy included as the alcohol content of the red wine tends to burn off in the mulling process.

During the Middle Ages the additional spices and Citrus in Mulled Wine was believed to make people healthier, and after all, much of the water wasn’t drinkable in Middle Age England. On top of that there was the Black Death to deal with so they surely needed a good drink anyway…

Here’s an excerpt from the “Good Housewife’s Jewel” by British author Thomas Dawson in 1596:

“Take a gallon of white wine, sugar two pounds, of cinnamon, ginger, long pepper, mace not bruised galingall [sic]…and cloves not bruised. You must bruise every kind of spice a little and put them in an earthen pot all day. And then cast them through your bags two times or more as you see cause. And so drink it.”

It’s the Victorian Era version of the drink which is closest to the modern day version of Mulled Wine, with the drink being popularized in the novels of Charles Dickens such as the incredibly popular ‘A Christmas Carol’ where he mentions a brand of the drink called ‘Smoking Bishop’ and thus the connection of Mulled Wine with the Christmas Season was solidified.

For generations Mulled Wine has been a glorious excuse to drink steaming wine from large coffee mugs, as the sharp winter cold sets in and our bodies and spirits (excuse the pun) are in need of some warmth. On those frostbitten nights there really is nothing better, especially after having stood at the stove making your own, it really is incredibly simple. Make your own Mulled Wine to warm up the winter evenings with our recipe:

Ingredients:

1 Orange, thoroughly washed and sliced in half, unpeeled.

5 whole cloves

1 stick of cinnamon

1 inch cube of ginger

A few Black peppercorns or Long Pepper

200g Sugar

1 bottle of red wine (the quality really does not matter)

Brandy (to taste)

Method

1) Lightly crush all dry spices and finely slice ginger.

2) Pour the contents of half of a bottle of red wine into a heat proof pan and begin to warm over a low heat.

3) Add the sugar, orange halves and all spices to the red wine, turn up the heat and leave on a rolling boil for around 5 minutes. This is to create a thick, syrup type consistency which will be the flavorful base for your drink.

4) Turn down the heat and add the rest of the bottle of wine to your syrup base and gently warm for a few minutes, until steaming hot.

5) Turn off the heat and add a  dash of brandy, to taste, as a lot of the alcohol content will have burned off in the mulling process.

6) Strain into your favorite mug and enjoy while hot!

You can experiment with the spices and fruits, variations of this drink also include star anise, cardamom, lime, lemon, raisins… there really is no one correct way to mull your wine!

For other mythical and historic (and simple to make) Mulled Wine recipes, including Cleopatra’s Elixir  of Life, visit https://vinepair.com/wine-blog/8-delicious-mulled-wine-recipes-from-around-the-world/

December is upon us with its chill breeze and long dark nights; most of the world is fervently preparing for Christmas and embracing the festive season. Each corner of the globe has its own unique and wonderful way of celebrating Christmas, from the German Markets which illuminate the cold dark nights, the Midnight Mass held in churches across the globe to commemorate the birth of Christ, to the brewing of mulled wine to warm up the cold evenings.  It is a commonly held belief that Christmas is a Christian festival, which indeed it is for some; however the December winter solstice celebration held all over Europe has its roots set in pre-Christian times. Perhaps more interesting than Christmas customs are the myths and legends surrounding the time of the Winter Solstice and festival of Christmas. Travel and Deal take you on a journey through the ages as we explore some of the most interesting Christmas myths, legends and origins from around the globe.

Pagan Winter Solstice, The Origin of Christmas.

Yuletide was (and still is) a winter festival observed by the Germanic people and people of Northern Europe. Scholars have connected the celebration to the Horned God, The Wild Hunt and the god Odin in Nordic traditions at a time before Christianity had spread to Europe, and the indigenous religions of Europe were largely nature based with pantheons of Gods and Goddesses.

Centuries ago the winter months were a time of famine in Northern Europe and many livestock were slaughtered due to the shortage of grain to feed them, meaning this was a time when fresh meat was plentiful. The Winter Solstice is the day of the year with the shortest hours of daylight, and the longest darkest night, and after this day the days begin to lengthen, marking the end of winter. Yule was a celebration of the rebirth of the Sun and in pre-christian Scandinavia lasted for 12 days, and gave rise to the custom of burning the Yule log (the term in modern days often refers to a log-shaped chocolate cake popular at Christmas!)

One of the most famous celebrations of winter solstice or Yuletide continues to this day, In England. Each year in the ancient sacred stone circle of Stonehenge, thousands of Druids and Pagans come together on the longest night of the year to chant, dance, sing, celebrate and wait for the glorious vibrant English sunrise and the rebirth of the Sun God.

 Saturnalia, the ancient Roman predecessor of Christmas. 

The ancient Roman celebration of Saturnalia was in honor of the god Saturn, who was an agricultural deity who is said to have ruled over the earth in the ‘Golden Age’, an age when humans enjoyed the rich bounty of the earth in a state of innocence and without labour divisions.

An ancient Roman historian Justinus relates the God Saturn to the first king of the pre-Roman Italians:

The first inhabitants of Italy were the Aborigines, whose king, Saturnus, is said to have been a man of such extraordinary justice, that no one was a slave in his reign, or had any private property, but all things were common to all, and undivided, as one estate for the use of every one; in memory of which way of life, it has been ordered that at the Saturnalia slaves should everywhere sit down with their masters at the entertainments, the rank of all being made equal.”

— Justinus, Epitome of Pompeius Trogus 43.3

In the festivities of Saturnalia, festivities were enjoyed by all and class barriers were not adhered to, as well as role reversal being part of the festivities. Gambling and dice playing, which were usually frowned upon activities, were openly played on Saturnalia by everyone regardless of class background. The giving of gifts was also customary, as was the appointed role of ‘King of the Saturnalia’ (Similar to the medieval Lord of Misrule) the King of the Saturnalia was a figure, appointed by lot during festivities, who’s capricious commands such as ‘Sing Naked!’ or ‘Throw him in cold water’ were obeyed by the other guests at the celebration. The purpose of this figure was to keep alive a spirit of chaos, absurdity and fun.

 Gruß vom Krampus!

‘Gruß vom Krampus’ meaning ‘Greetings from the Krampus’ was a frequently seen catchphrase on Christmas cards during the Christmas season in Northern Europe. The antithesis to the well known kindly Santa Claus figure, the Krampus is a mythical creature from the European yuletide traditions, most likely pre-Christian in origin. Krampus is a half man, half beast, often portrayed with a foot of a man, and the other a cloven hoof. While well behaved children would receive presents from Santa, the unruly ones would be at the receiving end of Krampus’s birch-wood switch! Ouch…

The origins of the Krampus were most likely pre-Christian; however it is a myth which has been incorporated into Christmas in many European countries.

While the Krampus myth isn’t so widely propagated in modern times, there continues to be fantastic and fun costumed processions which happen such as the Washingtom Krampusnacht Walk which takes place each year around the 5^th December, a family friendly event where performers and dancers sport elaborate Krampus costumes, and all money raised goes to charity organizations… perhaps the Krampus does have a nice side after all!

 La Befana, The Good Witch of Christmas

In Italian folklore, Befana is an old woman who delivers gifts to children on the night of Epiphany Eve (January 5^th) in a similar way to Santa Claus. Legend has it that Befana rides through the air on a broomstick with a bag full of gifts and sweets, wearing a black shawl and covered in soot; as the enters homes through the chimney shaft. Being a good housekeeper, she is said to sweep the floor after herself before she leaves, to some this symbolizes sweeping away the problems of the previous year.

Perchta

Perchta is another early Santa Claus type figure originating in Austrian Folkflore, and perhaps the most sinister of all the Santa archetypes. The exact origins of Perchta are somewhat unclear; rather there are several possible speculated origins from different European folk tales. According to some sources, Perchta was the female counterpart to ‘Perchtold’ the leader of the Wild Hunt, which was comprised of Elves, Fairies and Demons running around making mischief, and seeing the hunt in passing was thought to be an omen of misfortune.

Legend has it that Perchta, sometimes described as a tall, white robed woman, would visit houses on the 12^th night of Christmas (Feast of the Ephiphany) and leave pieces of silver in the shoes of well behaved children. Unruly children, according to the legend, had a fate far more gruesome. Perchta would punish them by gutting them alive and replacing their internal organs with refuse! So if a lump of coal in a stocking wasn’t enough to discourage children from behaving badly, the grim prospect of disembowelment by Perchta would have definitely done the trick…

Spending your days travelling through the smog filled city of Delhi? Longing to get away to a place where you can breathe clean, fresh air? You’re not the only one; many city residents are taking long weekend breaks and vacations to give their lungs a well deserved break from the pollution. If you’re trying to plan a clean, green trip to rejuvenate and re-oxygenate, whether you seek to travel North or South, our list of India’s least polluted areas should help you to decide on the perfect location.

1)      Kinnaur, Himmachal Pardesh.

The gorgeous city of Kinnaur, also known as ‘Land of The Gods’, in the much sought after holiday state, Himmachal Pardesh, has been recorded to have the cleanest air in the entire country, as per a study conducted by IIT.  Levels of air pollutant are recorded at fewer than 5g/m3, while India’s average is 40g/m3, and Delhi is at a staggering 150g/m3!

As well as its fresh air and clean green atmosphere, Kinnaur is also known for having one of the world’s best varieties of apple; world renowned for their unique sweet flavor and crisp crunchy texture.

2)      Chandighar, Punjab

Chandighar has long been hailed as one of the countries cleanest locations with the distinction of being one of India’s only planned cities. Chandighar really does offer the best of both worlds with the convenience of modern life with the cleanliness and fresh air of a more remote location. Whether you’re a nature enthusiast or a lover of vibrant night-life, there really is something for everyone in this remarkable city. Some of the top attractions of Chandighar include the Rock Garden and Sukhna Lake.

3)      Gandhinagar, Gujarat

Another one of India’s planned cities, and the capital of the state of Gujarat, Gandhinagar offers a rich cultural heritage and serene environment to its visitors. As well as being one of India’s cleanest and least polluted cities, it is also famous for the Akshardham Temple, one of the country’s most beautiful temples. If you are planning to bring children on your trip, the Children’s Park is a wonderful location for children to play as well as for adults who want to soak up the greenery surrounding the area. Other religious sites, while not being as famous but still worth a visit, are the Hanumanji Temple and Brahmani Temple, sure to offer an enriching experience.

4)      Pathanamthitta, Kerala

Situated in the southern region of Kerala, Pathanamithitta is the smallest of all districts in Kerala and has nearly half of it’s total area under forest cover. Although it is excessively humid during certain times of the year, it’s a district that does not compromise on air quality. The district succeeds in meeting the benchmark of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and the World Health Organisation has certified it as the ‘city with the cleanest air in India’. Considering the vast size of our country, that really is an achievement! Air quality aside, the district is also known as the ‘pilgrim capital of India’ as it is home of Sabarimala; a pilgrimage center which is visited by over 100 million devotees each year, making it one of the largest pilgrimage sites in the world. It is a wonder that with such an influx of people the district manages to remain one of the cleanest cities globally, perhaps it is due to the rich forest acting as the districts green lungs.

5)      Matheran, Maharashtra

Matheran is an important hill station of Maharashtra as it’s the closest one to Mumbai and Pune, offering residents of these busy locations a chance to escape the rat-race and enjoy this green and calm environment. Vehicles are banned in Matheran, which is what makes the air so clean and the journey to the hill station so adventurous. Not only is the air fresher than most of the country, it offers a welcome relief from the sound pollution most of us living in metropolitan cities grow accustomed to.

It’s elevation of 2,625 feet ensures that it never gets too hot or too humid,  making this a wonderful destination year round, although it’s recommended to book early due to the popularity of this hill station!

The concept of a cat cafe, while being completely utopian to some and nightmarish to others, is not a new concept as cat cafes have been opening from London to Seoul.

However India, Mumbai is home to the countries first cafe where visitors can spend time with furry felines while sipping a latte and enjoying a freshly baked cake. Cat Cafe Studio, located in Mumbai City, like any other cafe does not charge an entry fee to spend time with it’s furry residents.

All the cats at the cafe are rescue animals which have been nurtured to good health before joining the Cat Cafe clan, and all cats are up for adoption to loving homes. Pet therapy has been well documented and proven to work wonders to lift the mood, which is the basic premise of this cafe. If good coffee and great food aren’t cutting it, petting the cuddly felines at the cafe should surely do the trick.

As well as being a playful place for cats and cat lovers, the Cat Cafe Studio also hosts ‘The Art Studio’ a place where art work is exhibited and artists are able to perform.

As mentioned on their website:

The independent art circuit of Mumbai welcomes you!
We at Cat Café studio invite photographers, painters, musicians, poets, writers, motivational speakers, stand up comedians, fashion designers, dancers and skilled professional to come flaunt their work to the city.

So there you have it, India’s metro cities and beyond are seeing the rise of independent ventures such as this, which prize creativity and ethics as central features. We only hope that this is the beginning and the country will see more to come.

In the meanwhile, take a look at Cat Cafe Studio’s website http://catcafestudio.com for more information on visiting and inquiries. You’re sure to have a purrrrrfect time!