When I say festive, I mean from around the Autumn Equinox, as I start making these in October. The citrus scent combined with the warming aroma from the cloves, makes our home smell welcoming, and has the bonus of being infused with my intention of happiness and prosperity as every clove is pushed into place! So, what Is a Pomander? The word pomander derives from the French pomme d’ambre, meaning apple of amber, as they were usually round in shape and occasionally contained ambergris (a substance from the bile duct of a sperm whale!). Medieval herbalists used pomanders, mixtures of fragrant, dried herbs wrapped in cloth, to ward off illness or bring strength and good fortune. Strongly scented pomanders of ambergris were used in Europe, during the time of the Black Death, to try to protect the carrier from infection. Today, pomander balls are usually a lot simpler, being made of an orange or other citrus fruit studded with cloves, sometimes also dusted with other spices, such as cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg and orris root. Magical Correspondences – Orange - Gender: Masculine Planet: Sun Element: Fire Properties: Divination, happiness, generosity, purification, clarity, fertility, creativity, love, luck, prosperity. Cloves – Gender: Masculine Planet: Jupiter Element: Fire Properties: Luck, prosperity, abundance, friendship, harmony, stop gossip, love, protection, repels negativity. Sources – A Kitchen Witch’s World of Magical Food by Rachel Patterson A Kitchen Witch’s World of Magical Plants & Herbs by Rachel Patterson
Ahhhh. I remember making these as a child. Thanks for the wonderful memory!