This year Hanukkah arrived at a fairly warm and pleasant time. Last year Hanukkah was really cold, rainy, and the desire to go into the kitchen to warm up in front of the stove and eat a Sufgania was reasonable. This year, even though some nice rain has already fallen, Hanukkah arrived on warm days. Although when I go outside in the morning I am wrapped up in a coat or thick sweater because the winter chill is already felt in the morning and at night.I wonder what to call this weather? It is not yet winter because during the day we can still walk around in short sleeves.
But still, we can feel the winter humming and buzzing around. Hanukkah usually comes in mid to end of December, close to the winter solstice,the day with the least hours oflight. This is a time when the hours of darkness are closing in from every direction. This is when winter is not just humming, but roaring loudly.The winter solstice has been celebrated, since forever, throughout the world, because of the fact that most of the darkness is already behind us. From now on the days will slowly fill with light. And although we already know the reason, and know that it is simply an astronomical cycle, and even though it is true that now there are many hours of darkness, we also know that soon the light will return.
Still, we need to confront it loudly and celebrate. The darkness and the cold bring with them a desire to remain indoors and move inward, feelings of introversion, sometimes even a gray and dark mood. In our heads, we know that after winter comes spring, but in our hearts,we seek light, and now. And we must make that happen.
What did all the peoples of the worlddo, for ages and ages, when they were attacked by the winter blues? They celebrated, with light, and warmth and good company. The Inca, for example, had the Inti Raymi, the sun festival. At the peak of the darkness they lit a torch, a candle, and a bonfire, and invited the neighbors, friends and family and gather together to sing, eat and send away the darkness, sadness and fear. Perhaps they thought that if they did not do this maybe the sun will not come back?
We are clever and intelligent, full of technology and science, and can look at the weather forecast for weeks or more in advance. We know when to take an umbrella, when it will snow and when the sun will come out. But back then, they did not know and cold and dark periods always brought with them fear and uncertainty – how intense will the cold be? Will the stored food be sufficient until the cold period ends?
Nor were there so many means to spread light and to remove sadness. There was no electricity, few candles, no binge TV serials and no pile of books next to the blanket. The winters were a time for slumber or gathering.
What would the Maccabees do during those long nights? If they were into making fried latkes, they probably managed without potatoes (which had not yet reached the area in those days) and therefore the most sensible guess isthat they used red lentils and wild greens, which grew wonderfully at this time of year that is saturated with rain. Those of you who are interested in recreating the experience can use beet and radish leaves, which you receive in your boxes connected to their roots. It is best to fry with coconut oil, although the Maccabees probably did not have this. This oil oxidizes less at high temperatures, and gives the latkes an interesting taste. The other option (which also avoids the trouble of frying) is to bake them in the oven. You can find interesting latkes recipes here.
To health!
Yours,
Maggie and the garden team
Forecast for this week:
Organic vegetable baskets:
Tomatoes
Cucumber
Spinach
Lettuce
Pepper
Spinach
Kohkrabi
Potatoes
Carrot
Lemon
Coriander
Large organic vegetable baskets:
Eggplant
Sweet potato
Beet Leaves
Organic fruit baskets:
Oranges
Clementine
Kiwi
Bananas
Large Organic fruit baskets:
Pomelo
Bananas
Carambola
You can choose off course to mix and match your own order in our website.
