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 MAY GARDENING TIPSMay Day (May 1) is a good time for planting cucumbers, watermelons, thyme, sage, rosemary, lemon balm, parsley, mint, angelica & basil. Sow seeds inside. Remove weeds as they appear. Plant outside hardy herbs such as foxglove, sage, yarrow and violets that have been grown in containers and pots. Cut back shrubby herbs such as southernwood (Artemisia abrotanum), myrtle (Myrtus spp), cotton lavender (Santolina chamaecyparissus), bay (Laurus nobilis) and rue (Ruta graveolens) to encourage new growth. Try planting mint in pots. MAY FOLKLOREAn old cure for a sty in the eye was to stroke it with the tail of a tortoise-shell cat—still attached. This was only effective in the month of May. While stroking, one would say: I poke thee, I don’t poke thee, I poke the quaff that’s under thee, O Qualyway, O Qualyway. A rather curious custom related to Ascension Day (May 29) involves giving friends and family crickets for good luck. If the crickets chirp during the day it is a good omen. If not, bad luck will ensue until the following Ascension Day. Finally, an old Sicilian custom involves making crosses out of mugwort and placing them on the roof of your home on Ascension Day; it is believed Jesus will bless the home during the night. It was long a popular belief in Eastern and Western Europe, that a maiden, washing herself with dew from the hawthorn on the first day of May at daybreak, would preserve her beauty for ever, the activity repeated annually, of course. Another version of the magickal May Dew entails collecting dew water from magickal plants and herbs throughout the entire month. Using a cobalt blue or purple bottle, collect droplets of dew from plants such as clover, iris, honeysuckle, roses, lemon verbena, hawthorn, daisies and violets each morning. Keep your special elixir in a cool place, even the refrigerator where it will stay good indefinitely. COLLECTING MAGICKAL RAIN WATERThere are several ways in which to collect rain water in May. One day is the first day in which it rains. This is called May Water and is considered powerful water in the realm of conjure. It is most ideal if it is rain collected on the first of May, but if not, the first day in which it rains is the next best thing. May water can be used for any potions calling for water and will give the formula a magical boost. It is specifically good for love potions, as well uncrossings and jinx-breaking. There is another ritual related to Ascension Day or Holy Thursday. Rain collected on Ascension Day is considered Holy water so it is yet another great day to collect your water for washes and spiritual baths throughout the year. Ascension Day is the 40th day after Easter and celebrates the ascension of Christ into heaven. You only need to add 7 drops of the water to any spiritual bath or formula to infuse it with its magickal energy. _____________________________________ * This article is excerpted from the book Hoodoo Almanac 2014-2015 by Denise Alvarado, Carolina Dean and Alyne Pustanio. shop for magickal watersConjure Water
$10.00
Sold out Conjure Water by Alvarado Apothecary is ideal for cleansing the home and place of business, paving the way for good luck and success. Arguably the best conjure drug around, it does a fantastic job of actual mundane cleaning and spiritual cleansing, removing stagnant energy, lingering negativity and removing obstacles. For best results, I highly recommend first decluttering your home; especially if you seem to be facing roadblocks at every turn. So, get to decluttering and reorganizing, and then wipe down your furniture and computer with Conjure Water by Alvarado Apothecary, add some to your floor wash and watch your days begin to shine! Thunder Water
$20.00
Sold out Thunder medicine is a fantastic example of Red/Black traditions. It combines some little known Indian conjure with common Hoodoo works like protection and gambling hands. It is an all purpose medicine and can be used in conjunction with any work to enhance commanding power, defense, protection and even gambling luck! Thunder water is water gathered during a thunderstorm in a specific ritual manner. It can be used to empower any work and to protect and bless the home. It can also be used in defensive magick and added to other spiritual waters to boost their effectiveness. 8oz. Florida Water 7.5 oz
$10.00
Sold out Florida Water is valued as a multipurpose cologne-turned spiritual water. Originally, Florida Water was known as unisex cologne, suitable for men and women. It was touted as "The Richest of all Perfumes" and "The most Popular Perfume in the World" by Murray & Lanman, the company that created it. In Hoodoo, Florida Water is used in spiritual cleansing and home protection. It can be worn on the body, used as an ingredient in magical works or by itself as a cologne, put in the bath water and misted in the environment to purify it. In fact, there are so many ways Florida Water can be used it is no wonder it remains a favorite conjure item among practitioners. War Water
$15.15
Sold out In traditional modern hoodoo, root workers employ War Water in foot track magick which causes poisoning through the feet. War Water is also purportedly used for creating household disharmony and chaos, making everyone in the household argue and fight one another. Originally, a bottle of war water would be hurled at the front door or porch of an enemy to cause disharmony and bad luck in the home. Nowadays, that could get you a terrorist charge, so stick to sprinkling it around your enemy's home and yard instead. War water can also be used as a curse reversal by sending malevolent energy back to its source. Voodoo Mama's War Water is a proprietary blend based on a traditional New Orleans recipe available exclusively at Creole Moon. Among other things, it contains rusty nails, Spanish Moss and Creosote and smells to high heaven, as any powerful War Water should. Comes in a 100 ML amber glass oblong flask with black ribbed closure and tamper evident seal to prevent leakage. It also has a pouring insert for ease of sprinkling. Voodoo Mama's Conjure Products are taking conjure to a whole new level and we are confident you will agree! Hungary Water (Eau d'Hongrie)
$10.00
Sold out Hungary Water (Eau d'Hongrie) or Compound Spirit of Rosemary can be used by itself as a magickal aid for women in need of empowerment. It can be worn as a cologne or sprinkled about the home for protection, to ward off evil, and to bring good luck to family matters. DID YOU ENJOY THIS ARTICLE? PLEASE SHARE IT WITH YOUR FRIENDS!
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 Red bricks can be seen all over New Orleans, from the old brick streets to the brick graves in the Cities of the Dead. New Orleanians have found a variety of esoteric uses for them-- they are the preferred writing implement for marking 3 cross marks on the grave of our infamous Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau and they are used in pulverized form at the front door to keep away evil. It comes as no surprise that red bricks would also be used in the makeshift shrines seen around the city in the aftermath of hurricane Katrina. But where did this practice come from? One can only surmise; but, the fact of the matter is that red ochre clays have been used medicinally and ritualistically since the earliest of times. For example, medicinal use of red ochre clay is described in the Ebers Papyrus from Egypt, dating to about 1550 B.C. (Ferguson, 2006). And, ochre pigments were used by Cro-Magnon artists who painted prehistoric cave paintings in southern Europe between 32,000 and 10,000 years ago. Residues of red ochre clays have been found in burial contexts all over the world from Paleolithic peoples in Europe to Late Holocene peoples of the Americas. Red ochre paint was used to imbue the newly departed with symbolic blood. For example, a human burial ground was found at Caplen Mound on Galveston Island, Texas which had a clam shell covered with a thin layer of red ochre. The shell was found within the grave and is assumed by archeologists to have functioned as the receptacle which held the paint used during body preparation rituals (Campbell, 1957). Many suggest that the origin of the use of red brick dust can be traced to traditional African irosun powder. Irosun powder is red dust produced by termites from the barwood (Pterocarpus osun) and camwood (Baphia nitida) trees. Termites eat the outer white portion of the wood, leaving the heartwood to produce the reddish powder called osun. Irosun powder is used in Ifá for divining purposes; it is sprinkled on the divining tray by the diviner and figures of Ifá are marked on the tray in the powder (Bascom, 1991).  Red Brick Dust is now available in 1.3 pound size! Red Brick Dust in New Orleans VoodooIn New Orleans, the most commonly known use for red brick dust is its application in pulverized dust form to the front steps of the home as a means of keeping evil away. It is said that red bricks were taken from the Dumaine Street Brickyard—the earliest place in New Orleans in which Voodoo rituals occurred—and were used in rituals and floor washes. The last reference to the Dumaine Street Brickyard in print was in connection with Voodoo Queen Sanité Dédé in 1825. Since that time, red bricks remain plentiful and can be procured all over the city. The use of red bricks has been mentioned in a number of writings. In the The Life and Works of Marie Laveau, for example, Raul Canizares (2001) talks about hex-proofing the home Orleans-style: Orleanians since before the time of Marie Laveau swear by the power of red brick dust to ward off evil. Simply get an old red brick, hammer it to dust, and spread the dust around the front of your house, using a broom. Keep a pan of water that has been treated with a ball of Indigo bluing (anil) behind your front door, and draw crosses using cascarilla behind every door of the house. Add a couple of drops of urine from a child and use the mixture as a floor wash, this will complete making your home hex-proof. (Canizares, 2001, p. 23). It should come as no surprise that Robert Tallant (1984) has something to say about red brick dust as well. He writes about it in his book Voodoo in New Orleans: Zozo LaBrique, a well-known New Orleans street character, an apparently half-demented creature, who peddled buckets of brick dust. She was fixed, they say, by Marie Laveau because the latter wanted to rule the Voodoos alone. It has long been a custom among some New Orleans housewives to scrub their front steps with brick dust, a tradition having a definite connection with Voodoo—the washing away of an evil omen placed on the house by an enemy. It is true that now many people will tell you that they do this only for reasons of cleanliness; yet, that was its original meaning, and many stoops in the poorer section of the city have a well-scrubbed, whitish appearance, showing that brick dust has been used. Zozo LaBrique sold her dust for a nickel a bucket, and when she died a small fortune in those coins is said to have been found in her disreputable quarters. (Tallant, 1984, p. 47). The use of red brick dust as first line of defense in the home is not the only way it is used in the context of New Orleans Voodoo. For example, Milo Rigaud (2001) in Secrets of Voodoo describes how vévés are traced on the ground using several different kinds of flour and assorted powders-- cornmeal, ashes, coffee grounds, brick dust, powdered bark and roots—while the vévé itself comprises the various symbols of the mysteries petitioned during Vodou ceremonies. how to use red brick dustIn addition to its use in protective works, red brick dust has been used in a variety of different ways to exploit its powerful protective properties. Here are a couple of ways in which red brick dust is used in New Orleans Hoodoo. To Conjure a Person To conjure a person, fill a bottle with red brick dust, a piece of devil’s shoestring, 9 navy beans, and 9 rusty nails. Top off with white lightning (moonshine), shake well while uttering a few choice words, then throw in the sewer. This conjure is sure to make a person very sick. To Swell a Man To swell a man and keep him from bragging, take a red brick and dress nine black candles on which the target’s name has been etched with a rusty nail. Write the same name on a piece of paper with Dragon’s Blood ink and place it face down on the brick. Tie the paper securely to the brick with twine. Light one candle per day for nine days. After the last candle has burned, throw the brick along with the candle remains in the canal or the sewer. “Just like the brick soaks up the water, so that man will swell” (Hurston, 1935). To Nullify Evil To nullify an evil work, sprinkle some red brick dust on top of the crossed object. Red Brick Floor Wash Make a wash with red brick dust. Wash doors and windows to keep out enemies. Red Brick Dust Candle Fix Add a pinch of red brick dust to candles for protection. Red Brick for Safe Travel Keep a chunk of red brick in the trunk of your car for protection and safe travel. Red Brick Dust Barrier for Protection Use red brick dust in your windows and doorways to keep out enemies. Shake the Devil Off Powder Powder to prevent from being crossed: crush up red brick dust and dragon’s blood and sprinkle around the home. This can also be added to floor washes and used to dust candles and petition papers. _____________________________________ * This article is excerpted from the book Red Brick Dust: A Traditional New Orleans Conjure Curio by Denise Alvarado, In press. shop for red brick productsRed Brick and Bay Mineral Elixir
$19.95
$14.95
Known for its protective properties in New Orleans Voudou, red brick dust has been used for centuries to form a protective barrier around the home to prevent evil spirits from entering. Traditionally placed across the threshold of doorways and windows, red brick dust is a powerful ancestral mineral that can be traced to the use of irosun powder in Africa. Irosun powder is used in Ifá for divining purposes; it is sprinkled on the divining tray by the diviner and figures of Ifá are marked on the tray in the powder. In Yoruba, irosun powder is used to consecrate the pot of Ogun, the Yoruban orisha of iron and technology. Whether in its Old World application or New World interpretation, red brick dust embodies some powerful mojo.
Bay leaves are used in Southern rootwork for a wide variety of purposes including protection, health, success, psychic powers, wisdom, clarity of thought, insight, warding off evil and the evil eye, driving away enemies, victory, healing, purification, and strength. In New Orleans, Bay leaves are considered to be among the most powerful of protective herbs. * Our Gemstone and Botanical Elixirs are gemstone and plant-infused perfume oils and not intended for internal consumption. Red Brick Dust/Polvo de Ladrillo Rojo
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Sold out In traditional New Orleans Voodoo, red brick dust is one of the most powerful and popular minerals used for protecting the home. After scrubbing the front porch with Chinese Wash or a mixture of urine and Essence of Van Van, red brick dust would then be spread across the threshold to keep bad energy and enemies from entering. Spread some of Voodoo Mama's Red Brick Dust across all thresholds of your home, including windowsills and doorways to keep evil away and to form a protective barrier. Voodoo Mama's Red Brick dust is ground by hand from old bricks gathered from a local ghost town in the Southwest combined with red bricks from New Orleans. This ghost town is notorious for its paranormal activity and mystical energy. A classic wild west boomtown, it's history embraced bootleggers, opium dens, copper mining, prostitution and gambling and attracted people from all over the world in droves seeking riches and a freer life. After the bricks are collected, they are smudged with sage to insure they do not retain any negative attachments. After they are smudged, they reside for a period of seven days on my Marie Laveaux altar with offerings to receive the blessings and protection from the Voodoo Queen of New Orleans. In addition to being used by itself as a protective barrier, Red Brick Dust can be added to floor washes, used to fix candles, added to mojo bags and gris gris, and added to doll babies for its protective qualities. According to oral tradition, it can be sprinkled over any evil conjure to nullify its effects. To learn more about red brick dust, check out the article What is Red Brick Dust and How Do You Use It? on the Conjure Digest blog. Red Brick Dust Candle Fixin' Blend
$9.95
Designed as a versatile blend of herbs, roots, minerals, powders and oils for fixing candles for spellwork, Voodoo Mama's Red Brick Dust Candle Fixin' Blend is used by folk magic practitioners to fix candles, dress job applications, petitions, amulets, and talismans, and add to mojo bags, gris gris, and to fix and stuff doll babies. Red Brick Dust Candle Fixin' Blend from Creole Moon is perfect for fixing candles for the purpose of protection, defense, cleansing, and blessings.
DID YOU ENJOY THIS ARTICLE? PLEASE SHARE IT WITH YOUR FRIENDS!   Legendary Pictures’ Krampus, presents a dark and twisted tale of the infamous creature of European pagan origin best known in the United States as the infernal sidekick of Saint Nicholas. Instead of greeting the holiday with the usual Christmas cheer, the movie presents a predictable plot where all hell breaks loose with a family punished for their dysfunction as Krampus stalks the nonbelievers and malcontents during a dark blizzard on Christmas Eve. Krampus was co-written and directed by Michael Dougherty, known for another holiday-based horror film, Trick 'r Treat. Krampus begins with a portrayal of a normal family who is awaiting the arrival of extended family members to celebrate the holiday. Parents Tom (Adam Scott) and Sarah (Toni Collette), grandmother Omi (Krista Stadler), teenaged daughter Beth (Stefania LaVie Owen), and pre-teen Max (Emjay Anthony) anxiously await Sarah’s sister Linda (Alison Tolman) and her family, a rude and crude bunch who display irreverence for the holiday and disrespect for themselves and others. Linda’s husband, Howard (David Koechner), is portrayed as a stereotypical redneck who loves guns and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Linda’s family also includes a cranky aunt (Conchata Ferrell) and several obnoxious cousins. The ill-natured cousins taunt Max for still believing in Santa, and when they find and read the letter he wrote to Santa they further humiliate him, which results in one disillusioned little boy who turns his back on Christmas. Max unknowingly casts a sort of spell on himself when he rips his letter up into tiny little pieces and scatters them to the winds. Consequently, a terrible storm arrives and the power for the entire town is lost. The remainder of the movie occurs fittingly in the darkness of a raging blizzard setting the stage for the arrival of the so-called demon Krampus who is ready to unleash his wrath on the family, forcing them to either unite or fall apart. The film is not entirely serious; it is somewhat of a hybrid horror/comedy—sort of along the lines of Gremlins— which is what saves it, in my opinion. I have to admit I went into the movie already biased by the trailers I had seen that portrayed Krampus as a purely evil creature. The usual misrepresentation by the Big Screen regarding characters of pagan origin is beyond annoying. Nevertheless, I put that aside and watched the movie. I wanted to see how Krampus looked. I was also interested in any backstory—I wanted to see how they were going to present Krampus as a legendary figure. That the movie failed to achieve full horror or full comedic results did not bother me. I was, however, disappointed that most of the scenes with Krampus and the monsters occurred close-up or in suggestive ways, as opposed to giving the audience a good look at them so we could marvel at the creative handiwork. Sigh. Still, Krampus does have some good moments. A series of strange events begin to occur, but no one seems to know what is going on. No one, that is, except for the German grandma, Omi, who in the beginning keeps to herself what she knows. Later, she recounts her childhood memories of Krampus in a hauntingly beautiful scene that explains just how Krampus found the American family. Omi calls Krampus the “Shadow of Saint Nicolas” and shares how growing up in poverty made her dislike the holidays to the point that she summoned Krampus as a result. He, in turn, drug her parents into hell but spared her, leaving behind a brass bell as a reminder of the consequences for losing one’s Christmas spirit. Of course, hell is a Christian concept and has nothing to do with the actual pagan creature. I guess if Krampus is likened to the devil though, then hell has to figure in the rewritten mythology somewhere. I have lost all hope for Hollywood ever getting anything pagan correctly depicted. Meanwhile, Krampus lurks about outside of the family home and upstairs in the attic a number of surprises await. Some presents that had been delivered earlier (by Krampus) start shaking, getting the family’s attention who predictably go upstairs to investigate. There, they find der Klown-in-the-box who decides to eat one of Max’s cousins. If that’s not scary enough, they are taunted and attacked by Lumpy, Dumpy, and Clumpy, three evil gingerbread men. No, I’m not making this up. But wait, there’s more. After fighting off the gingerbread demons, the family is attacked by three of Krampus’ evil elf minions who end up kidnapping Dorothy, Howard, and the baby. The rest of the family make a run for it in the blizzard which proves to be a bad move as they are eaten by a snow monster. There are a few side plots of various family members being terrorized by the devilish Krampus crew but ultimately, the only one left alive is Max, who has to confront the Christmas demon alone. Krampus gives Max a bell like the one his grandmother was given, only this one was wrapped in a piece of Max’s torn letter. Max apologizes to Krampus for losing his Christmas spirit and pleads for the return of his family, and though Krampus considers the request as he dangles Max over the pits of Hell, he drops him anyway. Instead of landing in fire and brimstone, Max wakes up in his bed on Christmas morning as if it all was nothing but a dream. He gets out of bed and joins his family who are downstairs opening presents. Then, he opens a present that contains the Krampus bell and everyone suddenly remembers what had happened. They all sit dumbfounded while the camera pulls back and shows Krampus watching them from inside a snow globe on a shelf in his creepy lair. There’s no deep meaning behind the obvious in the movie: karma’s a bitch when Krampus is watching.  As an artist, I would have loved to have seen more of the Krampus character. I particularly loved the (far too short) scene where the group of Krampuses waere walking in the snow. I also totally loved the little Krampus bell and would love to purchase one just because, if only the manufacturer wetanz.com would get them back in stock. Folks selling them on Ebay are selling them at nauseatingly inflated prices. For example, the actual cost from the manufacturer is $11.99 whereas Ebay sellers are pricing them at $79.00. All in all, Krampus is not a bad movie, but it’s not especially good either. It falls short in a number of areas and does not give enough visual effect to satisfy the artist or pagan in me. It left me hungry for more than a huge, refillable $7.50 bag of buttered popcorn could compensate for. Still, Krampus lovers should check it out for themselves. I’ve made that easy for you by providing the QR code that goes to the directly to the movie on Amazon.com where you can watch it for just a couple of bucks. * This article appears in Gumbo Ya Ya's Holiday Edition Krampus-Santa issue. * Check out this article for some cool Krampus videos. Krampus-Santa Gumbo Ya Ya 2015 Holiday Edition
$13.00
Sold out Who knew there are as many versions of Santa Claus and his sidekicks as there are cultures that celebrate Yuletide? From the Netherlands’ white horse called Schimmel to the donkey of France and the Angels of Czechoslovakia, the companions of St. Nicholas run the gamut from beast to celestial being to human thug, from benevolent helper to scary monster. Whatever their form and demeanor, St. Nick’s companions travel alongside him to help him get the job of gift-giving done. And as for Krampus? He is often referred to as the Christmas devil because he travels with St. Nicholas in chains and bells punishing children who have misbehaved. According to lore, the naughty children are taken away to his lair, some say to Hell itself, and crammed in cages or chained. If you are interested in the legends of both St. Nicholas and Krampus, how the two got together and what they are all about from a pagan as well as Christian perspective, then you have got to read this issue of Gumbo Ya Ya. But that's not all we have in store for you. Check out these articles: But that's not all we have in store for you. Check out these articles:
And more recipes, legends and other interesting things to make your holiday season more festive. We are out of stock, but you can purchase the paperback on Amazon here. GUMBO YA YA KRAMPUS-SANTA Digital Download
$7.00
Who knew there are as many versions of Santa Claus and his sidekicks as there are cultures that celebrate Yuletide? From the Netherlands’ white horse called Schimmel to the donkey of France and the Angels of Czechoslovakia, the companions of St. Nicholas run the gamut from beast to celestial being to human thug, from benevolent helper to scary monster. Whatever their form and demeanor, St. Nick’s companions travel alongside him to help him get the job of gift-giving done. And as for Krampus? He is often referred to as the Christmas devil because he travels with St. Nicholas in chains and bells punishing children who have misbehaved. According to lore, the naughty children are taken away to his lair, some say to Hell itself, and crammed in cages or chained. If you are interested in the legends of both St. Nicholas and Krampus, how the two got together and what they are all about from a pagan as well as Christian perspective, then you have got to read this issue of Gumbo Ya Ya. But that's not all we have in store for you. Check out these articles:
But that's not all we have in store for you. Check out these articles:
And more recipes, legends and other interesting things to make your holiday season more festive. Krampus Fixed Conjure Candle (1)
$25.00
Krampus is commonly referred to as the "darker" sidekick of Santa Claus because he essentially represents the polar opposite of St. Nicholas. In German folklore, Krampus is represented as a sort of Christmas devil complete with horns and cloven hooves. As one of the Companions of St. Nicholas, Krampus wanders the streets in chains and bells punishing children who have misbehaved. Krampus Night or Krampusnacht occurs on December 5th (the eve of the feast of St Nicholas) when he is offered fruit schnapps. While Santa dispenses gifts for the good children, Krampus is the bearer of coal and bundles of gold painted birch twigs called Ruten bundles. Krampus is alleged to periodically swat children who have misbehaved with one of the longer twigs. Sometimes, he carries a whip for the same purpose. Krampus presents Ruten bundles to families who leave them out as a reminder throughout the year for children to behave. Krampus is believed to have Pagan origins; though, his exact lineage is unclear. Some suggest he is the son of Hel in Norse mythology while others suggest he is similar to the satyrs and fauns of Greek mythology. Whatever his origins, he is a feared but beloved creature who adds a little chaos to the holiday mix.
Krampus is depicted on a red glass encased, seven day candle fixed with aromatic herbs and oils. Creole Moon's fixed glass encased candles will burn for approximately seven days or 120 hours. They can be reused once they have burned down as vases for holding flowers, turned into a container spell to keep on your altar or refilled with wax to burn again. They are simply too beautiful to throw away and the creative conjurer will find many possibilities for using the decorative glass container once the original wax has burned down.
*Be sure to check out my article Setting Lights on my blog for instructions and ideas for using any of my candles. St. Nicholas and Krampus Fixed Conjure Candles
$45.00
Celebrate Yule with both St. Nicholas and Krampus with these beautiful handcrafted candles. Krampus, best known as the sidekick of St. Nicholas, is depicted on a red glass encased, seven day candle while St. Nicholas is on a white glass-encased candle, both fixed with aromatic herbs and oils that will burn for approximately 120 hours. Krampus is commonly referred to as the "darker" sidekick of Santa Claus because he essentially represents the polar opposite of St. Nicholas. In German folklore, Krampus is represented as a sort of Christmas devil complete with horns and cloven hooves. He wanders the streets in chains and bells punishing children who have misbehaved. Krampus Night or Krampusnacht occurs on December 5th (the eve of the feast of St Nicholas) when he is offered fruit schnapps. While Santa dispenses gifts for the good children, Krampus is the bearer of coal and bundles of gold-painted birch twigs called Ruten bundles. Krampus is alleged to periodically swat children who have misbehaved with one of the longer twigs. Krampus presents Ruten bundles to families who leave them out as a reminder throughout the year for children to behave. Krampus is believed to have Pagan origins; though, his exact lineage is unclear. Some suggest he is the son of Hel in Norse mythology while others suggest he is similar to the satyrs and fauns of Greek mythology. Whatever his origins, he is a feared but beloved creature who adds a little chaos to the holiday mix.
St. Nicholas is the patron saint to children, students, sailors, fishermen, ships, sailing, mariners, merchants, bankers, scholars, travelers, bakers, pawnbrokers, prisoners, captives, brides, chemists, the hungry, the falsely accused, repentant thieves, archers, and pharmacists. Burn a St. Nicholas Fixed Altar Candle to petition St. Nicholas for justice, charity and love. In New Orleans, it is said that one must burn a candle when petitioning any saint in order to "wake them up" so they can hear your petition. This beautiful candle bears a Petition St. Nicholas on the back. Voodoo Mama's Conjure Candles will burn for approximately seven days or 120 hours. They can be reused once they have burned down as vases for holding flowers, turned into a container spell to keep on your altar or refilled with wax to burn again. They are simply too beautiful to throw away and the creative conjurer will find many possibilities for using the decorative glass container once the original wax has burned down. The exception to this is when the candle is burned for nefarious purposes. The remains should be thrown in a trash can away from your home or left at a crossroads with an offering to the spirits that reside there.
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