Justine and Gary have got to find Nigel, but a quick duck into a room off the last galley has led them into a world of glittering snow, warm fires, food in abundance and even little gifts with their names on them… Wait, there’s cookies, too!

What have they stumbled into?

Why, Yule of course; and a blog hop, and a cookie recipe, and perhaps best of all – a giveaway!

It’s that time of year, and I just couldn’t let it pass by without sharing a bit of our traditions, and our coven tradition. I also felt an urge to drag Justine, Gary and Nigel into the fray of excitement and frazzled nerves that comes along with the holiday. Bur first, a little about us…

I have a favorite tradition at this time of year. Our coven – Glas Celli – has done this for years; I think this will be our eighth. Each year at our annual general meeting we collect ‘dues’ for membership. We gift various things to the coven, such as candles, ritual tools, etc., so our dues go to something a little more important.

We provide the ‘stockings’ for the local Christmas Cheer board. We buy the stockings (or equivalent), and stuff them with toys, candy, puzzles, pencils, stickers, a craft, coloring books, and mittens or gloves. Babies celebrating their first holiday get a special stocking, blanket, a onesie, a bib, mittens and a stuffed animal, as well as a lit mini-tree.

This year and last, we haven’t done stockings, but rather drawstring back-packs or totes that can be colored on, using Crayola fabric markers. This provides the craft for all ages, and both sexes, in one fell swoop, and makes it easier on us. Plus, it’s so much more fun and personalized to each child!

The cheer board lets us know how many children are included in the list, boys, girls and their general ages, and then the day before packing begins, we deliver the bags. Not only does our doing this lessen the work load for the volunteers on the board, it also gives them more lee-way with the cash donations they receive, so that it can be focused on other needs for each family, rather than the little extras for the kids.

Prior to this, we had collected food at open circles, Pagan Pride Days, and coffee meetings to donate. One year it just occurred to the HPs and I – we could do this instead. Oh, we still donate foodstuffs on our own, but this is something we do as a group, and it’s for the kids. That makes it so much better!

I’ve heard some mumblings about pagans supporting other religious holidays, and how we should focus on our own paths rather than helping out the Christians. I never let that go. See, our town doesn’t care who gets the hampers at Christmas. Most religions have some form of holiday in late November to mid-January; locally we have a limited choice. There are Christians, Pagans, Muslims, I think there may be a few Buddhists around, and maybe – maybe – a handful of Jewish folks. I know there are a few JWs as well, I’ve met some here, but I’m not entirely sure they are from our immediate area.

If they don’t care about religious path, why should I? I know the kids receiving these bags aren’t Pagan, but I also don’t know for 100% sure that they are Christian, either – so we don’t put religious themed items into the bags. Easy-peasy.

I have received hampers – and they know we’re pagan, I’m way out of that broom closet and someone took the door off the hinges afterwards – not only from the cheer board, but from another group who stepped in during a really, really – REALLY – bad year for us. That was probably the catalyst for my wanting to give back, actually. From having absolutely nothing for Yule/Christmas to having the best holiday they’d ever had, my girls saw what it’s like from all sides, and appreciate it all that much more.

My second favorite tradition? Cookies.

I’ve spent years modifying and tweaking every sugar cookie I could get my hands on until I *think* I’ve finally hit as close as I’m going to get to Ms. Tina’s “Martindale” cookies. Ms. Tina was my cousins’ grandmother’s back-door neighbor. She made these cookies, and named them after the gaggle of children that would come knocking on the door or stand in her yard and eat the raspberries right off her canes (guilty!). I loved them. Unfortunately, I was too young to appreciate the fact that no one lives forever, and people move, etc. Grandma Glenn is still in her house, I believe… but Ms. Tina has long since moved or more likely, passed away. I mean, this was 30+ years ago!

Jodi’s Take on Ms. Tina’s Martindale Cookies

Ingredients:

3/4 c butter, softened (butter, not margarine!)
1 1/2 c dark brown sugar (brown, not golden!)
2 eggs
1 tbsp milk
2 tsp vanilla
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
3 c all-purpose flour
1 tsp cinnamon
1 small pinch nutmeg

Directions:

Cream together butter and sugar; add eggs, vanilla, and milk. In a separate bowl, sift and stir together the dry ingredients, making sure they are well blended, then add a bit at a time to the main bowl. Dough should be soft, but not sticky. Add more flour if necessary, a tablespoon at a time. Do not over-flour!

Divide dough in half, wrap in plastic wrap or wax paper and chill for half an hour, an hour or two would be best. Roll to 1/4″ thickness and cut with a floured glass or cookie cutters.

Bake at 375* for 8-10 minutes. If you’re going to ice these, wait until they are completely cool to do so. If you’re going to add sprinkles but no icing, add just after removing from pans, while they’re still warm. Press them in gently and they should stay.

Let me know if you give ‘em a try!

’til next week folks – take a break, NaNo is over for another year!
<3 JL