Winter is upon us, let’s celebrate this frosty, cold season with festive cheer! The Southern Harvest Farmers Markets in Bungendore will be hosting a Yuletide Market in mid-winter on Saturday 15 July at the Anglican Church Hall, Butmaroo Street, Bungendore. Stalls will be decked in Yuletide cheer. A decorated Yule tree will add to the atmosphere and tables will be set inside the hall to eat, drink, be merry and stay warm.
You could also warm yourselves by the Yule log fire with a hot mulled drink, soup and other wintry food from the Market’s stall-holders. Dewsburys Free Range Pork will have their spit roast pork ready for delicious lunch time fare. Bungendore Pre-School will be providing egg and bacon rolls for breakfast.
While you’re eating, drinking and being merry, enjoy and join in the Yuletide carols with the Bungendore Choir. Other festive entertainment will be announced in the lead up to the Yuletide Festival. Market hours will be extended from 9am to 2pm so lunch can be enjoyed.
If you can’t make the markets in the morning, or you can’t get enough Yuletide cheer, Le Tres Bon, The George Bar and Dining and Cafe Woodworks are spreading the festive spirit with special Yuletide menus. What a perfect way to escape the cold and enjoy great food!
Yuletide or Yule (Jol in Old Norse), is a Scandanavian and old Germanic Winter celebration. The Nordic traditions celebrate 12 days of Yule starting from the Winter Solstice until mid-Winter. It was a celebration to mark the longest night of the year, celebrate the ending of Winter, the rebirth of the Sun and ushering in the New Year. In the Northern hemisphere, Winter coincides with Christmas and many elements of traditional Christmas celebrations were absorbed from older Yule traditions. Some of these traditions are familiar to our modern celebrations of Christmas, such as the decorated evergreen tree, lights (or candles), the colours of red, green and gold, carols and carolling, mistletoe, holly and ivy, banquets and drinking.
Winter in Bungendore may be cold and sometimes miserable at this time of year but let’s make it a season for fun, merriment, feasting and celebration! Stay tuned for the next ‘Yuletide in Bungendore’ update, which will also provide a brief explanation about the origins of the Yule tree and the tradition of the Yule Log.
If you are musician or entertainer who would like to participate in the Yuletide festivities; if you would like to have a food or produce stall at the market; if you are a Bungendore business that would like to spread some Yuletide cheer; or if you have ideas or suggestions for more Yule-themed activities please get in touch with Genevieve at contact@genevievehopkins.com.