‘Tis the season of feasting, merriment and good cheer. Gathering with friends and loved ones is something that we cherish and enjoy, especially this time of year. It’s no wonder that solstice traditions that were popular centuries ago, remain today. Gifts, traditional decorations, wonderful food, lovely music and lots of laughter are part of winter celebrations from now until the start of the new calendar year. Meeting with those whose company we enjoy is an activity the makes us feel good. Song, dance, tantalizing scents and flavors are good for us because it affects our brain chemistry in a positive way. It’s healthy for us to celebrate and enjoy the company of other people.

Parties and celebrations do not have to be stressful, complicated or expensive. Too often we create much too much havoc for ourselves. My advice for a truly joyous holiday is to keep it simple and keep it full of love and meaning. Try some of the older, simpler ways to celebrate the winter holidays. You can create a cozy, comfortable holiday home with simple decorations and natural aromatherapy. You don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars on it.

In Northern Europe, plants that remained green during the coldest and darkest of days were considered magical. They symbolized eternal life and were thought to bring good ju-ju into the home. Evergreens, reverently harvested, were brought indoors at the time of the winter solstice. Holly, native to Great Britain, is still a popular solstice plant. For centuries the custom of hanging holly in the home has been practiced. The intention is to bring good luck and protection throughout the winter. This tradition is still popular and we “deck the halls” as the popular old carol goes. A sprig of holly was carried on the person as a good luck charm as well. This was especially useful for men of the Middle Ages (holly is considered a masculine plant.) They carried it as a means of protection.

To give a gift of a holly plant to friends and family was like giving a blessing. An old pagan German solstice tradition was to go around and give a holly plant to friends and neighbors. The recipients would be blessed with strength, health and fertility. The giver of the holly was given gifts in return for the plant. Garden centers usually offer potted holly plants this time of year. If nurtured indoors, the can be planted around the house in the spring for continued protection and good energy. If live plants are not practical for you, there are some pretty good silk imitations available.

Recently, I did break down and purchase a fake tree. Since it is completely devoid of that characteristic fresh and clean coniferous scent, I make aromatic room sprays, potpourris, wreaths and diffuser blends. Pine, fir, spruce and cedar essential oils can be combined or used as single note scents for homemade holiday aromatherapy. It is easy and inexpensive to make your own rooms sprays. I use 4 ounces of spring water and a scant one half teaspoon of essential oil (2.5 ml.) in a glass spray bottle. Try one essential oil alone or dabble with combinations of conifers. I like white pine (pinus strobus), balsam fir (Abies balsamea) and Siberian fir needle (Abies siberica) together. Be sure to shake combination vigorously before spraying to evenly disperse the essential oil mini-droplets. The scents of pine, fir, spruce and cedar have the reputation for clearing negativity and cleansing the aura. I find their scents refreshing and invigorating like a brisk winter walk in the forest. They are also antiseptic and soothing to the respiratory system. Inhalations of these were an old time remedy for bronchitis and asthma.

Candles made of beeswax or soybean wax are easy to make and will send luscious aromas around the home. Simply combine equal parts of the essential oils you have chosen in a tiny glass bottle. Add this blend to a dried potpourri mixture and shake in a large glass canister. For six cups of unscented potpourri mixture, I use about a scant half-teaspoon (2.5 ml) total of essential oil. Essential oils can also be diffused in a tea light candle warmer or aromatherapy light bulb ring to scent your home with conifers or the exotic aroma of the culinary spices.

The spicy scents of clove, cinnamon and nutmeg are also a popular part of winter solstice “get-togethers”. Cardamom and allspice were also imported and sold to those few who could afford them. Doesn’t your scent-memory connection kick in when you get a whiff of these mouth-watering baking and mulling spices? It brings back the memories of holiday gatherings from childhood. In medieval times exotic spices from Asia, the Middle East and Africa were extremely expensive and considered a special gift. As the spice route became more widely traveled, they became less expensive and much easier to obtain. Special treats made of clove, cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom and allspice are still given as holiday gifts. The fabulous taste and wonderful aroma of these goodies bring pleasure to those who partake. Get out your favorite spice cake or cookie recipe and fill your home with this pleasing scent. These delightfully aromatic barks, seeds and fruits can be gently simmered in a pot on your stove. Warming and comforting is how I would describe the scent of the culinary spices. Your guests will definitely take notice of the aromatherapy when they enter.

Embellished your holiday home with eye pleasing greenery and uplifting aromas. Fill your celebration table with aromatic foods, beverages and desserts. Bring back the old traditions and focus on the love that’s all around. Keep it simple but elegant and special. And be sure to enjoy it yourself. Include song, dance and music for a truly memorable occasion. It’s easy and economical to create simple, old-fashioned yuletide celebrations to be remembered for years to come. Blessings to you and yours and enjoy the magic of the winter solstice season.

Karen Stokes, RN Herbalist is a member of the American Botanical Council and the Michigan Holistic Nurses Association. She can be reached at (248) 515-9863 or karen.stokes@yahoo.com.