A Magic Potion to Make Your Party the Best EVER!

Serve Up a Little Magic and Make Your Home Happy for the Holidays

It’s the time of year that friends and family get together for the holidays. While we all dream of those idyllic scenes where everyone gets together in joy and happiness, the reality is that most gatherings (especially when it comes to family) could use a little help to get to that place. I’m going to give you a spell that you can do with simple ingredients to make things magically harmonious when everybody gets together.

Christmas Magic in London

A little backstory on this. In 2013, I was lucky enough to take a trip to England in November with my friend Alyssa. Before I went, I remember wondering if I would be seeing any Christmassy things around London in November (and yes, I hear my British readers laughing right now). From around Guy Fawkes day (November 5th) until the end of the year, London is an insane winter wonderland!! They decorate EVERYTHING for the holidays, they do it to the hilt and it’s gorgeous!

Winter Market Magic

While I was there, there was a Winter Market being held in near Southbank Centre. For our American friends who don’t know, a Winter Market is dozens of stalls with a winter theme selling all sorts of gifts (hats, carved wooden toys, art objects), delicious smelling foods (sausages grilling, candy stalls overflowing with sweets, pastries), and drinks of all kinds (cold, hot, sweet, alcoholic and non).

My friend and I got to eat chestnuts hot off the coals which was like being in a happy version of a Charles Dickens novel for these California girls! We also had our first taste of mulled wine - warm, sweet and spicy - imagine a spiced sangria that was heated and you can kind of get the picture. I can tell you first hand that on a cold November evening, it was absolutely heaven!

Holiday Magic Potion

What these mulled wine merchants probably haven’t realized is that mulled wine can be turned into a magic potion - not only for those who drink it, but for those who just breathe in the intoxicating aroma.

You can make some magic-imbued mulled wine for your holiday gatherings and for kids, or those who don’t imbibe, mulled cider makes an excellent substitute. Just eliminate the wine and double up on the apple cider.

Mulled Wine Spell

• 4 cups apple cider (for companionable feelings)
• 1 (750-ml) bottle red wine, such as Cabernet Sauvignon (because wine is yummy and adds to the conviviality)
• 1/4 cup honey (to sweeten the feelings of those gathered)
• 2 cinnamon sticks (to inspire more fun)
• 1 orange, zested and juiced (to remind everyone of their family connections)
• 4 whole cloves (for preventing negative gossip)
• 3 star anise (for good luck)
• 2 allspice berries (for rapport between the guests)

As you add each ingredient to the pot, ask for it to help in making your gatherings convivial, harmonious and peaceful. You can ask each herb to do what it does best (for example, ask the cinnamon to inspire more fun). Simmer the ingredients for 13 minutes (such a magical number!) and then ladle them into cups for your guests.

As you serve each cup, wish each guest something special (for example, "May you have a year full of love") or, if you have a gathering of like-minded people, you can ask each guest to make their own wish on their cup of mulled wine or cider. Either way, as they drink it, they will take in all of the good wishes that have been added to the magic potion. For those who don't have a cup, the smell of these mulled beverages alone, as they permeate the house, will make for warm and friendly feelings.

Do you need magic herbs for your spells? Check out our selection of Herbs and Curios!

And find our selection of Potion Spell Kits here!

This article was written by Madame Pamita and was published on YourTango and Medium.