Wellbeing

Soul: Jo Wood on Christmas traditions

Our green guru delves into the history of our favourite Christmas ingredients and traditions

Our green guru delves into the history of our favourite Christmas ingredients and traditions.
Christmas is a wonderful time, full of magic and mystery for all the family. The festive smell resonates around the home: log fires burning, the intense air of spices, turkey in the oven and mulled wine warming on the stove. The Christmas spirit twinkles away in our hearts and homes, but where did it all begin? Why do we still have these wonderful traditions which have been passed lovingly from generation to generation?

The traditions of decorating a Christmas tree dates back to Victorian times, when in 1841 Queen Victoria and Prince Albert were illustrated with their family by a tree they had brought back from Germany. They had decorated it beautifully,and as a result it became very fashionable to decorate a tree at this time of year. The traditional Christmas tree is a fir tree, and originally candles were used, with sweets and cakes also adorning the branches. An angel or star is usually to be found sitting at the very top of a tree as a symbol of glad tidings.Today we have a huge variety of decorations including tinsel, lights, ornaments, and I like to make my own. All children love to get involved in Christmas, and this is one of the best parts –decorating the tree together as it gets dark outside. And don’t forget, as we continue to be more environmentally conscious, that all our trees can get re-planted or recycled once it’s time to take them down, which is traditionally on January 6.

Spice it up

Many of the spices we use at Christmas both in our cooking and in the home originate from what are historically known as the ‘spice islands’. Nutmeg use can be traced back to the first century AD, with Emperor Henry VI having the streets of Rome fumigated with it before his coronation. Clove has been traced back to the 3rd century BC as one of the Chinese Han leaders would chew it to freshen his breath. Star anise was apparently introduced to the UK in the 16th century by a sailor,having originated from China.Spicing up your Christmas is so easy, very traditional and also has tremendous health benefits, as spices can be used in a multitude of ways. Let’s also not forget frankincense and myrrh.Even one of my first Jo Wood Organics fragrances,Usiku, was developed with many layers of spicy notes, really evoking the senses back to this nostalgic time of year, and my love of these intense flavours.

Health benefits

Cloves are a great antiseptic, they help freshen the breath, and ease toothache with their antibacterial properties. Cinnamon has bee linked to helping with regulating blood sugar levels, cardiovascular disease and alzheimer’s .In some parts of Europe the root of ginger is considered to be an aphrodisiac, and it is widely used in ayurvedic medicine. It is also great for an upset tummy and to help battle the common cold. Myrrh is a resin derived from the sap of the myrrh tree, it is a fantastic antiseptic and can be found in mouthwashes, toothpastes and body lotions, it acts as an anti-inflammatory and it too is used in ayurvedic medicine.Frankincense can also be used as a resin which is edible, and helps aid digestion and improve the skin. Frankincense oil can be used to sooth and calm the mind, help with breathing and asthma, and is great for women’s hormonal problems. Christmas is all about continuing to keep these traditions alive to pass onto our children and grandchildren. For me, these days Christmas is all about loving our families and bringing them together as we celebrate festivities with healthy, fresh seasonal Christmas food, lots of laughter and love.

Article by

Jo Wood

Healthy and Organic Living Guru

is a healthy and organic living guru and creator of her own natural beauty range

Discover more

Article by

Jo Wood

Healthy and Organic Living Guru

is a healthy and organic living guru and creator of her own natural beauty range

Discover more