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Beltaine Treasure Hunt '08 - GARLIC
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 Garlic has long been considered a natural antibiotic and was even used to ward off the plague. Modern studies prove that garlic fights bacteria, fungi and viruses. An advantage of garlic as an antibiotic is that the body doesn't build up resistence to it. However, it is also important to note that garlic can interfere with some drugs, especially anticoagulants, so consult your doctor. The antibiotic properties are from the allicin in fresh, raw crushed garlic, which is lost when garlic is cooked. Garlic probably originated in central Asia and is one of the oldest plants. Six dried garlic bulbs were found in King Tut's tomb. It grows well with other plants and guards them against fungus and pests. Garlic oil repels slugs or snails, as well as mosquitoes. Most famous as protection against vampires, European folklore generally has garlic as a ward against evil eye. Dreaming about eating garlic means you'll discover hidden secrets. Roman soldiers ate garlic for courage and Egptian slaves were fed garlic for strength. Garlic was placed by the ancient Greeks (according to Theophrastus) on piles of stones at crossroads as a supper for Hekate. According to Pliny, garlic and onion were invoked as deities by the Egyptians for oath taking. Among the ancient Greeks, people who ate garlic were not allowed into Cybele's temples. According to Homer, it was yellow garlic that allowed Ulysses to escape from being changed into a pig by Circe. Here's a great garlic story from Pierre-Jakez Helias in "The Horse of Pride: Life in a Breton Village". "Custom still required that the newlyweds not be left to themselves until the evening of the third day. The first night was dedicated to the Virgin; the second, to Saint Joseph. And then came the "milk soup"ceremony, which was both symbolic and rather spicy. The recipe for that soup varied from one region to another and depended on the young people's imaginations, but it always included a string of garlic cloves. The milk in the soup proclaimed that the couple's life together would be pleasant; the garlic warned them to expect many disappointments. The younger guests would generally bring it to husband and wife at the banquet table, heartily singing the song of their ancestors--a sad ballad that was meant to make any bride of good stock weep with one eye and laugh with the other. Then the bombardists (players of a 1-octave oboe) and bagpipers would strike up another milk-soup tune that was livelier and wellknown for its tendency to 'dry away the tears,' prompting all the people at the tables to loudly rejoice." Breton Marriage Soup: http://www.soupsong.com/rbreton.html http://www.garlic-central.com Garlic plaque created by Fedelm Cruithni especially for the Beltaine '08 Treasure Hunt |
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~ Table of Contents ~
Feverfew
Lavender Ladybugs Thyme Bay Laurel Mint Answers to Spring Equinox Quix Dandelion for Spring Tonic Nettles for Spring Sun-Infused Calendula Healing Salve Fiddleheads Daffodil Quiz Beltaine '08 Treasure Hunt: APPLE Beltaine '08 Treasure Hunt: BOX SPRIGS Beltaine '08 Treasure Hunt: Hawthorn Beltaine '08 Treasure Hunt: Magical Fern Seeds Beltaine '08 Treasure Hunt: Mystic Mistletoe Beltaine '08 Treasure Hunt: EGLANTINE Beltaine '08 Treasure Hunt: GREEN WHEAT EARS Beltaine Treasure Hunt '08: THE CHARM OF IVY Beltaine Treasure Hunt '08: MARIGOLDS AND MAIDENS Beltaine '08 Treasure Hunt: THE SACRED OAK Beltaine '08 Treasure Hunt: VERVAIN |
