The Hearth Feast

The Hearth Feast

In the dead of winter, this feast day celebrates the warmth of house and home, and of companionship and family. The Feast generally involves large groups of family and neighbours gathering about a pre-selected hearth for feasting and music-making. The hearth is chosen on the Day of Tears and, every day from that date in the hearth is burnt a twig of applewood for fertility and a leaf of oak for protection. The sanctified hearth is supposed to bring blessing on all who feast by it on the Hearth Feast.