Scents of Holiday Chemistry
Meaningful relationships with our loved ones usually begin in the days of our childhood. For many, the scents of Christmas evoke powerful memories of time spent in the kitchen during the holidays with our mothers or grandmothers or perhaps with the male set who had a favorite recipe they were known for or you looked forward to. My dad often roasted chestnuts for us four kids and he loved to make homemade eggnog.
God was grandiose in all the things he put on this Earth for us humans to enjoy. What is astonishing to me is the fact that the aromas of the spices we enjoy which when put together represent exactly what we are most hoping to find when we are with family and friends. The five cornerstone spices of winter are cinnamon, cloves, ginger, nutmeg and star anise. Here’s what they represent spiritually:
- Nutmeg – a sweet spice produced by a species of tree in the ever lasting family (ever greens).
- Cloves – conscious love and dignity
- Ginger – strength and tradition
- Cinnamon – soothing warmth thought to be more precious than gold.
- Star Anise – reflected in the love of God in the light we see each other and in the sky after dark.
Do you delight in being with friends and family during the holy season because you feel all of these sentiments? I know I do. Revel in these joys of the season!
