Minnesota Herb Society

14 hours 54 minutes ago

Today is St Lucy’s Day. Also known as the Feast of Santa Lucia. Santa Lucia delivered saffron buns to people hiding in the catacombs. She wore a lighted wreath atop her head to guide her travels.

“In Scandinavia, where Saint Lucy is called Santa Lucia in Norwegian and Danish, and Sankta Lucia in Swedish, she is represented as a lady in a white dress (a symbol of a Christian's white baptismal robe) and red sash (symbolizing the blood of her martyrdom) with a crown or wreath of candles on her head.[7] In Norway, Sweden and Swedish-speaking regions of Finland, as songs are sung, girls dressed as Saint Lucy carry cookies and saffron buns in procession, which "symbolizes bringing the light of Christianity throughout world darkness".[

Minnesota Herb Society

1 week 1 day ago

Remember to set your shoes out tonight for the Feast of St. Nicholas tomorrow!

The focal point of the painting is the youngest daughter of the family, a golden-child, painted, in fact, in a golden smock and showing golden locks. She has behaved all year, and Saint Nicholas has rewarded her by stuffing her shoe with a doll and other treats, which she carries in her bucket. She is in stark contrast to her elder brother, standing to her right, who is sobbing, while another brother looks on, laughing. Apparently, the elder brother has been naughty, and his shoe, held up by an elder sister behind him, was left empty. Still there is hope for the sobbing boy. Hidden in the background, almost obscured by the draperies, his grandmother seems to beckon to him—perhaps she is hiding a gift for him too, behind the heavy curtains. While the mother attempts to coax the golden girl to show her the gifts she received, the father, seated in the center of the painting, seems to smile as he remembers his own childhood on this festive night. Further to the right a child can be seen holding a baby and pointing up the chimney, while a younger child looks on in amazement, as he has probably just been told that this was Sinterklaas' method of gaining entry to the house.

The Feast of St. Nicholas .. oil painting on canvas by Jan Steen

Minnesota Herb Society

1 week 4 days ago

Mistletoe - a Christmas Herb

Read an excerpt from Mistletoe Man by author Susan Whittig Albert.

At Thyme and Seasons, I buy mistletoe from a local supplier and Laurel and I package it in plastic bags tied with festive holiday ribbons. During the Christmas season, we process hundreds of mail and telephone and email orders for the herb, which grows in basketball-sized clumps on the hackberry and pecan trees in the wooded hills to the west of Pecan Springs. Once you’ve seen those fresh yellow-green leaves and translucent berries, glowing like huge pearls, you can understand why our mistletoe is so popular.—Mistletoe Man: A China Bayles Mystery

Minnesota Herb Society

3 weeks 1 day ago

Holiday Tree decorating at the MN Landscape Arboretum.
Tuesday, November 19 members of the MN Herb Society met to decorate our Holiday Tree. Our theme this year is Green Man. We spent several our creating our version of the Green Man. A striking goddess adorns the top of our tree!