Once upon a time, in a kingdom far away, there lived a young girl named Cinderella. Cinderella was the daughter of a wealthy merchant, but sadly, her father passed away when she was just a child. Left in the care of her stepmother and stepsisters, Cinderella was forced to work tirelessly as a servant in her own home. Cinderella's life took a turn for the worse when an evil sorceress named Morana cursed her family. The curse, known as the "Cinderepla Midnight Curse," was a spell that caused Cinderella's family to transform into different creatures at midnight. Every night, the moment the clock struck twelve, Cinderella's stepmother turned into a wicked witch, her stepsisters became hideous trolls, and even the family dog transformed into a terrifying werewolf.
Every night, the moment the clock struck twelve, Cinderella's stepmother turned into a wicked witch, her stepsisters became hideous trolls, and even the family dog transformed into a terrifying werewolf. The only one spared from the curse was Cinderella herself. As the curse took effect, the once lavish mansion transformed into a decrepit, haunted house.
On Psychedelics and Bad PR: How Witches Got Their Pointy Hats
Look for images of witches this time of year and, though there are a sprinkling of sleekly glamorous ones—perhaps Melisandre from Game of Thrones—the vast majority are hook-nosed, humpbacked, bewhiskered crones. It’s depressing and also feels like cultural ageism and even a misogynous slur. As it happens, historical gastronomist Sarah Lohman has plenty to say about that, as well as all things witchy and Halloween.
Sarah grew up in Ohio where her first job, at 16, was at a living history museum. Assigned to the kitchen where they only used wood-burning fire and cooked with ingredients available way back when, Sarah became fascinated with historical food. Since then she’s hosted Colonial dinners, done events and a podcast with The Masters of Social Gastronomy and written the bestselling Eight Flavors: The Untold Story of American Cuisine . Interestingly enough, Sarah said almost everything about witches and their portrayal can be traced back to food.
Take the main elements of witchiness: the hat, the cat, and the broom. In the Middle Ages, alewives were often women who stirred their water, malt, yeast and hops in the yard. And the tools of their trade? A cauldron big enough to hold their ingredients, a cat to keep away rats, and a broomstick to hang outside the door when the beer was done. These enterprising women even wore tall peaked hats so the crowds at the market could see where they sold their wares. Now enter the first brewers’ guild: a men-only association which framed these women as ugly, poison-peddling, and dangerous; a marketing gambit that happened to stick like a burr.
Speaking of witches, the Salem witch trials were supposed to be the result of a rash of hysteria amongst young girls. As Sarah Lohman says, we are often told “they were teenagers who wanted attention and all these other tropes about women that are now kind of tired.” Over the years, anthropologists have also put the accusations down to the politics, the place, and the times, but others have cited something more visceral, real, and misunderstood. Anthropologist Linda Caporael has made a strong case for ergotism as a possible cause. Ergot, a black fungus that grows on grains such as rye, has LSD-like properties. Ingesting ergot can cause hallucinations, convulsions, and a prickling pinching sensation from vascular constriction, severe enough to cause gangrene. Caporael studied weather records of the time as well as the land composition around Salem. The wettest, lowest farms in the area also happened to be owned by families with only daughters, the ones who were accused. And, to make the case even more compelling, in 1691 there was a long hot summer after an astronomical amount of rain, perfect ergot conditions, and the witch-possessions occurred only after the harvest. Children and pregnant women were generally the most susceptible, and the ergot would have had just enough time to build up in their systems and cause the havoc that ended up being so fatally misunderstood. It’s a circumstantial idea, but also one that is as credible as mass female hysteria. Who knew? Sometimes life altering events can come down to the unlikeliest things: smear campaigns and agricultural flukes.
For more of Sarah’s fascinating culinary sleuth-work and recipes (make your own candy corn!) take one of her Zoom classes at the Brooklyn Brainery or pick up her latest book.
The once beautiful courtyard turned into a dark, overgrown forest, filled with menacing creatures. And worst of all, Cinderella's beloved father's portrait, which hung in the grand hall, came to life as a vengeful spirit. Despite the darkness that surrounded her, Cinderella remained hopeful. She believed that there was a way to break the curse and restore her family's happiness. With the help of a wise old owl, Cinderella set out on a dangerous quest to find the mystical amulet rumored to possess the power to break any spell. Her journey was fraught with peril as she navigated through enchanted forests, treacherous mountains, and even battled against ferocious beasts. Along the way, Cinderella met kind-hearted creatures who provided her with valuable advice and guidance. She also encountered treacherous villains who sought to stop her in her tracks. As Cinderella grew closer to finding the amulet, Morana, the sorceress who had cast the curse, became aware of her mission. Determined to protect her dark magic, Morana unleashed her most powerful enchantments and minions to stop Cinderella. But Cinderella's determination and bravery proved to be stronger than any curse or spell. With the help of her newfound friends and the magical amulet, she managed to break the Cinderepla Midnight Curse. As the curse lifted, Cinderella's family returned to their human form, and the mansion was restored to its former glory. Cinderella's triumph over the curse not only brought happiness and unity back to her family but also taught her the true power of love, courage, and resilience. The once mistreated servant girl became a symbol of hope and inspiration for the entire kingdom. From that day on, the Cinderepla Midnight Curse story was passed down through generations, reminding people of the importance of perseverance and the belief that even the darkest curses can be broken with the right amount of determination and magic..
Reviews for "The Cinderepla Midnight Curse: A Tale of Love, Loss, and Redemption"
1. Emma - 2 stars
I found "Cinderepla midnight curse" to be a disappointment. While I enjoyed the concept of a retelling of Cinderella with a twist, the execution fell flat for me. The writing felt amateurish and lacked depth, with one-dimensional characters and predictable plot points. Additionally, there were multiple grammatical errors throughout the book that were distracting and took away from the overall reading experience. Overall, I would not recommend this book to those looking for a captivating and well-written retelling of Cinderella.
2. John - 1 star
I struggled to finish "Cinderepla midnight curse" as it failed to engage me from the beginning. The pacing was slow, and the story lacked originality, simply rehashing the same Cinderella tropes without offering any fresh perspective or unique twists. The dialogue was stilted and unrealistic, making it difficult to connect with the characters. Furthermore, I found the love story between Cinderepla and the prince to be forced and lacking in chemistry. Overall, I was disappointed by this book and would not recommend it to fans of fairytale retellings.
3. Sarah - 2 stars
"Cinderepla midnight curse" had potential, but it fell short in terms of character development and world-building. The main protagonist, Cinderepla, came across as weak and passive, failing to show growth or agency throughout the story. The magical elements in the book were poorly explained and felt arbitrary, leaving me confused and disconnected from the plot. Additionally, the pacing was uneven, with rushed resolutions and dragged-out scenes, making it difficult to stay engaged. Overall, I found this book to be a lackluster retelling of Cinderella, and I would suggest looking elsewhere for a more immersive fairytale experience.
4. Mark - 2 stars
I was expecting a fresh take on the classic Cinderella story with "Cinderepla midnight curse," but unfortunately, it failed to deliver. The writing was simplistic, lacking the lyrical prose that often accompanies fairytales. The characters felt underdeveloped and lacked depth, making it difficult to feel invested in their journey. Furthermore, the pacing was uneven, with long stretches of slow-moving plot interspersed with rushed and anticlimactic moments. Overall, this book fell flat for me, and I would not recommend it to those looking for a captivating fairytale retelling.