The winter solstice marks the shortest day and longest night of the year, and is celebrated by various cultures and religions around the world. In paganism, the native winter solstice cuisine holds great significance and is often celebrated with feasts and traditional dishes that have been passed down through generations. These dishes are deeply rooted in the pagan belief system and reflect the connection between nature, seasons, and human life. One of the main ideas in native winter solstice cuisine of paganism is the use of local and seasonal ingredients. Pagans believe in living in harmony with nature and the changing seasons, and this is reflected in their food choices. Traditional dishes typically feature ingredients that are readily available during the winter months, such as root vegetables, dark leafy greens, dried fruits, and nuts.
Traditional dishes typically feature ingredients that are readily available during the winter months, such as root vegetables, dark leafy greens, dried fruits, and nuts. These ingredients not only provide nourishment in the colder months but also symbolize the earth's ability to sustain life even during the harshest of seasons. Another important aspect of the native winter solstice cuisine of paganism is the use of symbolic foods.
Apocalypse occult academy
In the latest issue of Otaku USA magazine, we bust out a feature on the mega-popular Sword Art Online, based on the light novels by Reki Kawahara. While Kawahara is no doubt a hot topic when it comes to SAO, the anime adaptation is also something director Tomohiko Ito has come to be known for. That’s fine and dandy, but let’s not forget Ito and studio A-1 Pictures’ 2010 show, Occult Academy, which is doing a fine job of standing the test of time so far.
It’s hard to believe it’s been so long, but we posted our first impressions of the series back when the summer 2010 anime season was underway. Many of those feelings came flooding back when revisiting Occult Academy recently. It’s a sharply directed show that keeps things tight and fun throughout its 13-episode run, which is actually something Sword Art Online could have taken a cue from. While Ito is also known for his work on the 2006 adaptation of Takeshi Obata and Tsugumi Ohba’s Death Note—and is also helming the upcoming anime version of Fullmetal Alchemist creator Hiromu Arakawa’s Silver Spoon—Occult Academy stands out as a successful crack at original anime.
The series follows Maya Kumashiro, daughter of the headmaster at Waldstein Acadamy, AKA the Occult Academy, who visits the school after her father’s passing. Her initial goal when arriving to attend his funeral is to accept her inheritance of the school and then promptly shut it down. It’s clear from the beginning that she holds a hefty chunk of resentment toward the occult—a subject that completely dominated her late father’s life—so she’d just as soon be done with it for good. Things change, however, when she gets entangled in the Prophecy of Nostradamus, which predicts the end of the world, and a mysterious force that’s intent on seeing it come to pass. It came after her father, and she’s most certainly next.
The key to stopping the prophecy is, well, a Key. The apocalypse can be prevented by destroying the Nostradamus Key, and that’s precisely why Fumiaki Uchida, AKA Abe Minoru, has been sent back in time to find it. This brings him, floating nude like a descending angel, face to face with Maya, who eventually comes around and decides to team up with Fumiaki to stop the apocalypse. Thus we have all the makings of a series loaded with occult action and an all-or-nothing race against the clock.
Occult Academy manages to create a really potent blend of light horror elements, Japanese folklore, and plenty of humor that keeps things from getting too dire. At times it scratches that monster of the week itch, but never strays too far from the pressing matter of finding the Nostradamus Key by any means necessary. While Maya initially comes off as an extremely cold character, there’s plenty more to her than that, and we gradually witness the shedding of various layers as the show progresses. Likewise, Fumiaki is a really interesting character, especially with the way his current mission is woven in with flashes to the future, and references to the other Abe Minoru characters that attempted to find the Key before him. Needless to say, those missions didn’t end too well.
The end result is worth experiencing for yourself if you haven’t yet, and I wouldn’t want to spoil any of the fun here. Occult Academy is a great show to marathon over the course of a day or two and, best of all, it looks fantastic. A-1 Pictures did a bang-up job on everything from the character designs to the animation, which holds up well a few years later. There are plenty of options for checking out the series—NIS America released it on Blu-ray and it’s still streaming over at Crunchyroll—so do yourself a solid if you haven’t given Occult Academy a shot yet.
©A-1 Pictures/Aniplex, TV TOKYO
That most of the side characters are unimaginative makes the story even less relevant to the audience. The supporting cast never evolve past their gimmicks: fat dowsing student, the quirky father, occult-obsessed glasses girl, and Maya’s childhood friend. Perhaps the poor pacing and the unimportant early episode are to blame. And, while more important side characters are developed with more success, it only happens near the end of the series long after the story has begun in earnest. The hurried development makes the growth and changes of the characters a bit hard to digest, particularly with Mikaze, a relatively forgettable character, who would later get a surprisingly large role.
Pagans believe that certain foods have spiritual qualities and can help bring blessings and prosperity in the new year. One example is the use of round and golden foods, which symbolize the sun and its return after the solstice. Dishes like round breads, cakes, and pastries are often served to honor the sun's rebirth. Likewise, ingredients like honey and mead, which are associated with the sweetness of life, are also commonly included in winter solstice feasts. Feasting and communal sharing are central to the celebration of the winter solstice in paganism. It is believed that by sharing food and drink with loved ones, the community strengthens ties and ensures a prosperous year ahead. Therefore, native winter solstice cuisine often includes large and abundant dishes that can be shared among family and friends. These feasts foster a sense of warmth, unity, and gratitude for the blessings of life. In conclusion, native winter solstice cuisine of paganism is deeply rooted in the belief system of living in harmony with nature and celebrating the changing seasons. It emphasizes the use of local and seasonal ingredients, as well as the symbolic significance of certain foods. Through feasting and communal sharing, pagans honor the winter solstice and embrace the rebirth of the sun and the promise of a new year..
Reviews for "A Taste of History: Recreating Pagan Winter Solstice Cuisine"
1. John - 1 star - I recently attended a dinner event featuring the so-called "Native winter solstice cuisine of paganism" and I must say it was a complete disappointment. The food lacked flavor and creativity, and the presentation was mediocre at best. I was expecting to be introduced to unique and delicious traditional pagan dishes, but instead, I was served bland and uninspiring food. The event also lacked atmosphere and failed to create a sense of celebration. Overall, it was a letdown and I would not recommend it to anyone looking for an enjoyable dining experience.
2. Sarah - 2 stars - I had high hopes for the "Native winter solstice cuisine of paganism" dinner, but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The food was average at best and failed to showcase the richness and diversity of pagan culinary traditions. The menu lacked variety and creativity, and many of the dishes seemed poorly executed. Additionally, the service was subpar with long wait times and inattentive staff. Overall, the experience left me feeling underwhelmed and I would not consider returning or recommending it to others.
3. Mark - 2 stars - I attended the "Native winter solstice cuisine of paganism" dinner with hopes of trying something new and exciting, but I left feeling unsatisfied. The food lacked depth and complexity, and the limited options provided left much to be desired. The dishes seemed uninspired and failed to capture the essence of pagan cuisine. Furthermore, the atmosphere of the event was lacking, with little effort put into creating an immersive and engaging experience. Overall, I was disappointed with the dinner and would not choose to dine there again.