Old Magic of Christmas

Linda Raedisch writes and lectures on a wide variety of arcane topics. She is a long-time library employee and professional crafts instructor who teaches classes on candle making, broom making, and other old-time homemaking arts.

"Steeped in history and adorned with a bit of enchantment, The Old Magic of Christmas is the perfect book to read by a winter's fire with a mug of mulled cider in hand."—Deborah Blake, author of The Witch's Broom"...[A] fascinating journey into the stories behind the tinsel and bows."—Doreen Shababy, author of The Wild & Weedy Apothecary"...[A]n intriguing little tome that explores the darker side of the Yuletide holiday."—Ellen Dugan, author of The Enchanted Cat

• TABLE OF CONTENTS:  Introduction  Chapter One: A Thousand Years of WinterThe White Bees Are Swarming; A Bird’s Eye View; The Lady of the Castle; Craft: Distaff Tree; Craft: White Witch Window Star  Chapter Two: At Home with the Elves“What’s with the Elves?”; “Will You Know More?;” An Offering to the Elves; Like Christmas Itself; Craft: Elvish Window Ornament  Chapter Three: Dead by Christmas MorningQueen of the Elves; Recipe: Icelandic Snowflake Breads; Home but Not Alone; Sitting Out 101; Craft: Elf Wreath  Chapter Four: Riders on White HorsesSun, Moon and Stars; Craft: Martinmas Lantern; Martinmas Treats; Recipe: Martinmas Horns; The Wild Rider; “Blacker than pitch”; Recipe: Bishop’s Wine  Chapter Five: Creatures of Forest and MountainČert; Knecht Ruprecht; Other Nicholases; The Dream of the Rod; Buttnmandl; The Bells of St. Nicholas; The Bellsnickle; The Yule Lads; Goblins at the Window  Chapter Six: The Scandinavian Household SpriteNisse; Tomten; Tonttu; The Resilient Sprite; Craft: Christmas Tomten; Recipe: Rice Porridge So You Want to Buy a Troll  Chapter Seven: Reindeer GamesStallo; The Yuletide People; On Prancer!; The Witch’s Drum; Craft: Sacrificial Reindeer Ornament; The Horns of Abbots Bromley  Chapter Eight: A Christmas BestiaryThe Yule Horse; The Yule Buck; The Yule Boar; The Yule Cat; The Werewolf; The Spectral Dog  Chapter Nine: Winter’s BrideThe Christkind; Barborka; Lucia; Recipe: Lussekatter; Night Walks with Heavy Steps; The Lutzelfrau; Lucka; Craft: Lucka Mask; Rising from the Ashes  Chapter Ten: There Are Witches in the AirVampires; Down with a Bound; Rise of the House of Knusper; Craft/Recipe: Lebkuchen House; Witches Bearing Gifts; Recipe: Befana Stars.  Chapter Eleven: Dark Spirits of Hearth and HomeThe Kallikantzaros; The Yule Log; The First-footer; The Chimneysweep; The Fairy Queen’s Men  Chapter Twelve: The White Witch’s HerbalMistletoe (Viscum album); Juniper (Juniperus communis); Holly (Ilex acquifolium); Ivy (Hedera helix); Lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea); Christmas Rose (Helleborus niger); Christmas Rose (Anastatica hierochuntica); Christmas Rose (Rosa alba); Apple Tree (Malus domestica)  Conclusion: Eternity  Addendum: A Calendar of Christmas Spirits and Spells  Glossary  Bibliography  Index