CircleOfOne, Yule, 12/31/04
CircleOfOne has come to the conclusion that if we’re to thrive where we’ve been planted then we should begin paying closer attention to our own environment. So we’ve begun looking at how the seasons and holidays actually affect our lives here in Florida. Rather than consulting books and articles that have been written by strangers in strange lands, we’ve decided to look closer to home to develop traditions and customs for our area.
Yule and Winter are generally a time of great hardship and severe weather for many people. But for us here in Florida this is a time of abundance. The weather is cool and crisp and allows us to play out doors without the bugs. Florida crops grow best during these winter months. Flowers still bloom around us. This is the best season for many of us to become active and get things done that we don’t do during the hot months.
So I searched through many Yule Time and Christmas traditions to find something that signified the abundance of our season. It was a little tough, but I finally managed to find something. So tonight we’re going to pay tribute to the much misunderstood and often maligned Fruit Cake. What better symbol of abundance than a Fruit Cake just filled with everything under the sun?
Dating back to the Romans, fruitcake was once a relatively modest affair of pomegranate seeds and barley. Over the years, they’ve been created with every form of fruit, spice and alcohol known to man. Fruit Cakes have a reputation of lasting for quite a long time. They have perseverance.
Now it’s been a popular belief that there exists only one original Fruit Cake that is simply passed on person to person each year. This is not true; in fact over 800 million Fruit Cakes are created each and every year to be enjoyed around the world. Sadly, the very first original Fruit Cake was lost many, many years ago. It is said that there was actually a fourth Wise Man who journeyed to Jesus’ birth. Unfortunately, it was discovered that he carried the Fruit Cake and he was accosted by angry townsfolk who threw him into a cave and rolled a huge boulder into the entrance. It’s been said that it was that original Fruit Cake that sustained him for the remaining years of his life.
Introductions
(Begin by introducing yourself and encourage others to do the same)
Altar Devotions
(Light all the candles on the Altar)
By the powers of the Ancient Ones,
In the names of all who have gone before;
We remember thee, we honor thee.
Purify the Area
(Use the incense on the altar. Walk counter-clockwise around the outside.)
Cast Circle
Three times round, this Circle’s bound, With a zest for life and just enough spice to keep things interesting
Three times round, this Circle’s bound, With the fruits of our labors and the spirit of our friendships
Three times round, this Circle’s bound, With the common wholesomeness of our everyday hopes and dreams
Fashioned by the ingredients of our existence, we create this Sacred Space. Where night and day, birth and death, joy and sorrow, all meet as one. So Mote it Be
Call Quarters
North - I call forth the Elements of the North.
In the dark of night you bring with you winter's chill to invigorate our bodies and encourage us to move and enjoy all that life has to offer. We call to you to join us as we celebrate your season. Hail & Welcome!!
East - I call forth the Elements of the East.
In the soft glow of dawn you bring with you the breezes of springtime to refresh our spirits as you persuade us to follow our dreams. We call to you to join us as we celebrate this YuleTide season. Hail & Welcome!!
Call Quarters
South - I call forth the Elements of the South.
In the brilliant light of day you bring with you summers heat to cause us to take pause, regenerate our energies, and ignite our passions. We call to you to join us as we celebrate this YuleTide season. Hail & Welcome!!
Call Quarters
West - I call forth the Elements of the West.
In the shadows of dusk you bring with you the rains of fall to nurture the lands that sustain us and wash clean the environment around us. We call you to join us as we celebrate this YuleTide season. Hail & Welcome!!
Anoint
(Use oil to anoint the group - walk the inside of the circle to anoint and welcome each person in whatever fashion feels comfortable)
Unite energies
(Bring everyone into focus and unite the energies for the evening)
Name the Working
(Create the Fruit Cake)
Invocation
Great God, we invite You to join our Solstice Celebration. Leave Your wintry tasks and come to play with us this festive night. As Sage, Father, and Newborn Sun we call to You. We rejoice as we feel the touch of Your grace, and the breath of Your dancing fire, as the days once more grow longer. Be with us tonight, Blessed Be.
Great Goddess, we invite You to join our Solstice Celebration. Venture out from beneath Your wintry cloak and come to play with us this festive night. As Maiden, Mother and Crone we call to You. Lady, renew our hope as we feel the touch of Your grace; warm our souls with Your embrace. Be with us tonight, Blessed Be.
Sacred Space
(While in sacred space – ask if anyone needs/wants anything special. Ask if anyone has any questions, concerns, or comments. Take care of the wish box)
Raise Power
(Raise Power any way you wish, use something that will include the whole group. Try something new or different if you like.)
Great Rite
Male: Let it be known that no man is greater than a woman
Female: Nor is a woman greater than a man.
Together: For what one lacks, the other can provide and what one needs, the other can supply.
Male: As the Athame is to the male
Female: The Chalice is to the female
Together: And as they are joined they become one in truth. For there is no greater Magick in the entire world than that of Love
Cakes and Ale
Female: Great Goddess, Thank you, for the Blessings this drink provides. May we never thirst.
Male: Great God, Thank you, for the Blessings this food provides. May we never hunger.
Together: You are the Vine, We are your branches, For without You, We can do nothing.
Release Quarters
North, South, East and West. Together we’ve mixed the ingredients for the coming year. We thank you all for joining in our celebration. Go if you must, stay if you will. Know that you are always welcome here. Blessed Be!
Open Circle
The timer has rung. The Fruit Cake is done. Time to turn off the oven and bid goodnight to our Coven. May this circle be open, but unbroken. Merry we meet, Merry we part and merry may we meet again.
New Year Fruit Cake
1 Cp Golden Raisins (Prosperity)
1 Cp Currants (Growth)
½ Cp Dried Cranberries (Hope)
½ Cp Dried Blueberries (Protection)
½ Cp Dried Cherries (Independence)
½ Cp Dried Apricots (Love)
1 Tsp Orange Zest (Good Fortune)
¼ Cp Crystallized Ginger (Power)
1 Cp Quality Brandy (Friendship)
1 Cp Sugar (Love)
1¼ Sticks Butter (Nurturing)
1 Cp Apple Juice (Healing)
1 Tsp Cloves (Peace)
¼ Tsp Allspice (Courage)
1 Tsp Cinnamon (Luck)
1 Tsp Ground Ginger (Strength)
1 ¾ Cups Flour (Life)
1 ½ Tsp Salt (Preservation)
1 Tsp Baking Soda (Cleansing)
1 Tsp Baking Powder (Development)
2 Eggs (Rebirth)
½ Cup Toasted Pecan Pieces (Abundance)
DIRECTIONS
Heat oven to 325 degrees
Grease a large glass baking pan
In a medium pot, zest the lemon & lime, then squeeze the juice into a one-cup measure. Add just enough apple juice to complete the one cup needed for the cake. In the same pot combine dried fruits, candied ginger and rum, sugar, butter, juice and spices. Bring mixture to a soft boil stirring often, reduce heat and simmer for 5 to 10 minutes. Turn off heat and leave to cool for about an hour.
In a mixing bowl combine dry ingredients and then add half of the fruit mixture. Bring batter together with a large wooden spoon and then stir in eggs one at a time until completely integrated. Add remaining fruit mixture and combine well, then fold in nuts. Spoon batter into the baking pan and allow batter to sit for 15 minutes before baking.
Bake for 1 hour, check for doneness by inserting toothpick into the middle of the cake. If it comes out clean, it's done. If not, bake another 10 minutes, and check again.
Remove cake from oven and place on cooling rack or trivet. Baste or spritz top with brandy or rum and allow cooling completely. When cake is completely cooled, seal tightly and set aside. Every 2 to 3 days, feel the cake and if dry, spritz with brandy or rum. The cake's flavor will enhance considerably over the next two weeks.
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