Toasts
“God bless us everyone!”
–A Christmas Carol, Stave Three
The origins of toasting are obscure, although some authorities link the term to the toasted bread traditionally floated on, or crumbled in, the wassail. The word “wassail” is variously translated as “be whole” or “be healthy,” hence the link to toasting or drinking to one’s health. Raising your glass in a toast is a fine (and very traditional) way to show appreciation for your guests. It’s also a great opportunity to express the heartfelt sentiments of the season and should be a part of all your holiday entertaining. Here are a few examples that convey the felicity of the occasion:
Then let us be merry and taste the good cheer,
And remember that Christmas comes but once a year.
Then here’s to the heartening wassail,
Wherever good fellows are found;
Be its master instead of its vassal,
And order the glasses around.
–Ogden Nash
“Fifty more Christmases at least in this life, and eternal summers in another.”
–Charles Dickens, Mr. Pickwick’s Christmas dinner toast
Old World Traditions and a New World Beer to Go with Them
If dinner isn’t your party thing, plenty of other entertaining opportunities lend themselves to holiday merry-making. Draw on one of the many classic symbols of the season to bring friends and family together, or take part in a traditional wintertime group activity.
Trimming the Tree
“The walls and ceiling were so hung with living green, that it looked a perfect grove, from every part of which, bright gleaming berries glistened.”
–A Christmas Carol, Stave Three
Evergreens have been associated with seasonal celebrations dating back to pre-Christian times, with one of the earliest references coming out of northern Europe. Here, the Druids are said to have honored their god, Woden, by affixing fruit and coins to tree branches. Today, the unquestioned king is the Weihnachtsbaum, or Christmas tree.
While its name might suggest a more modern, strictly religious linkage, the symbolism of the evergreen remains firmly rooted in our pagan past. Although we have the English to thank for popularizing the custom of decorating a tree within our homes, the 16th century German cleric, Martin Luther, is often credited with the original idea of bringing the outdoors in. Tradition holds that after a Christmas Eve walk through the forest under star-lit skies, Luther recreated for his children the image of the starry heavens by placing candles on a pine.
There’s nothing quite like cutting your own tree for the holidays. And there’s nothing like getting some help to do it. Invite some friends to accompany you to the local “cut your own” farm and see how many different opinions you can get on what constitutes the “perfect tree.” After you’ve figured that one out, haul the tree home and put your pals to work on the riddle of the lights!
The Beer Choice: Alaskan Winter Ale
The addition of spruce tips to this beer gives it a slightly citrusy-spicy character pleasantly suggestive of pine resin. This ale gives a whole new meaning to the phrase, “Drink in the season.”
