12 Days of Christmas- Gluhwein- 4th January

This years 12 Days of Christmas parcels started with a hand dyed braid on 25th December, but then the following days all contain brand new colours of Superfine Merino & Silk. 
This is the exact same fibre composition as all the rest of the stock currently in the shop, so can be used interchangeably in the same projects. This was specially commissioned for the 12 Days of Christmas parcels, which meant I had to order lots of each colour. As a result the spare fibre is going online at midnight (GMT) on the day featuring each individual colour. Anyone can buy this spare fibre... it's really rather pretty!  You can find it in the Superfine Merino & Silk section of the shop, and the usual Buy 2, Get a 3rd Half price offer applies to this fibre as well. 

I've given them seasonal names, picking out traditions from all around the world. ​

Todays colour is Glühwein,  a rich dark red-brown. With streaks of purple, green and gold. 

Glühwein is German for mulled wine. Mulled wine is one of the things that I really love about this time of year. I have to confess we often cheat and buy a bottle of the pre-made stuff, though usually ad a few extra spices and our own orange slices. The rest of the family aren't that keen on the chunks of citrus, but that just means all the more chunks of warm, wine soaked, orange for me! 
When we used to go skiing it was a favourite drink at lunchtime... the falls certainly hurt far less afterwards!
The wine was traditionally made by putting a glowing poker in to the wine to heat it, glüh translated means glow. If you're a fan of historical novels it's something you'll sometimes hear being referred to, there was a far greater tradition of warm alcoholic drinks historically. Mulled Ale was very much a thing in 18th century England, as was the drink Flip, a combination of beer, rum eggs, and sugar. 

If red wine isn't your thing, here's a recipe for white mulled wine. Which leads me to todays musical treat, the only Australian part in this calendar (sorry Aussies, but prawns on a barbecue are not featuring tomorrow). The wonderful Tim Michin, with one of my favourite Christmas songs.