08/12/2022
Many people will be familiar with the ancient custom of keeping a Yule log burning throughout the days of Christmas. My latest Christmas card design depicts the not so well known custom of burning an ashen bundle to ensure good fortune for the coming year. Originally thought to have been a widespread ritual in many farms and houses, the tradition has been revived by several pubs in Devon, Somerset and on the Dorset border. The Ashen bundle is bound with between seven and nine thin bands of Hazel or Willow known as ‘Withies.’ It was then placed in a fireplace and lit on the night of either Christmas Eve, Old New Year on January 14th or Old Twelfth Night on the 17th of January.
One tradition was that when the flames caused the withies to break, a draught of Cider was taken. Others placed bets on when they would break and in another tradition, unmarried women would choose a band the breaking of, foretelling whom was to be the soonest to marry.
Still some of these original linoprint cards left.If you fancy any DM me for details.
