Month: August 2022
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Bartlemas “flayed” leather bracelets
When celebrating feasts in the liturgical calendar, I love trying to find crafts that can somehow teach us about the story we’re walking through. Memory is so tied to the tangible, after all. In thinking about a craft for Bartlemas, I wasn’t quite sure where to go – St. Bartholomew’s martyrdom was famously grisly: he…
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Bartlemas Gazpacho
This refreshing, summertime gazpacho (a cold soup) is made of watermelon and fresh vegetables. It’s inspired by the St. Bartholomew’s Day watermelon festival in Rome! Watermelon season is at its height this time of year, so it’s a fitting way to weave together the growing season with the liturgical calendar. It’s a really simple recipe,…
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Madonna of the Peaches Soda
Inspired by the role of peaches in iconography and to accompany my Madonna of the Peaches reflections and art, here’s a recipe for peach soda! The Marian month of August is also the time of year when peaches are plentiful. This stone fruit appears occasionally in iconography, usually being featured in paintings of Mary &…
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Rushbearing for the domestic church
Historically, churches and other buildings had hard, cold dirt floors. To provide some warmth and comfort to parishioners in a time before pews were used, rushes (Acorus calamus), mixed with aromatic flowers & herbs, were strewn on the church floor. The flowers added both a fresh, wonderful scent, as well as some natural insect-repellent. This…
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Carrot Sunday
On the Sunday before Michaelmas – known as ‘Domhnach Curran’, or ‘Carrot Sunday’ – Hebridean women would head to the fields to pull carrots, hoping for a lucky two-pronged root. If the soil were soft enough, they could easily pull the carrots – but, if the soil were hard, a three-pronged mattock was used to…
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Dragon Blackberry Pie
Blackberries are a big part of Michaelmas tradition. According to legend, St. Michael cast Lucifer out of heaven on Michaelmas (originally, this legend was attached to Old Michaelmas – which was on October 10th). Lucifer landed in a blackberry bramble, and being so angered by the prickles, he spat on them – so, it became…
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Tarta de Santiago
Enjoying a Tarta de Santiago (Spanish for “Cake of St. James”) is a quintessential way to celebrate the Feast of St. James! This delicious almond cake dates back to the Middle Ages, with the earliest written reference being from 1577 (under the name Torta Real, or “royal cake,” at the time). A hallmark of the…
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Oyster-shell candles for St. James’ Day
Here’s a simple craft inspired by St. James’ association with oyster shells – especially the English tradition of making candlelit oyster-shell grottos! A great way to find oyster shells is to go to any local seafood restaurants and inquire about discarded shells – they often have heaps of them. After some cleaning (dish soap, airing…
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Mint carpet for the Assumption
Historically, church aisles would be carpeted with mint for the Assumption – as parishioners walked across the mint, every footstep released fragrance. What a beautiful, tangible way of calling to mind the Assumption of Mary! A few years ago, we began folding this fragrant tradition into our home. We harvest fresh mint from our fields…
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Stella Maris Sodas
Here’s a festive Marian treat for your summertime celebrations! Refreshing & bright, Stella Maris Soda is a delicious way to enjoy the flavors of the season while also incorporating symbols of Our Lady. Since lemons – representing fidelity – have long been associated with Mary, we made lemon syrup from fresh-squeezed lemons. Add a little…
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