Jesus and Pumpkin Pie: Historic Inspiration for a Holiday Essential Oil Fragrance

The Christmas holiday celebrates the Christian religion’s birth of Jesus. Throughout the centuries it has become a decidedly celebratory and joyful time. The festivity of this day predates the Christian religion and has deep history as a day celebrating birth. The fragrances and spices associated with this day and season have been consistent. Engrained in this history you find the resins, frankincense and myrrh, and a host of spices, including cinnamon and nutmeg.

December 25th is closely aligned with dies natalis solis invicti; the birth of the invincible sun god. The celebration of birth is associated with the Winter Solstice. The daylight from the sun is visibly longer on the 25th, following the shortest day on the solstice, December 21st.

dies natalis solis invicti

The mythology of a son born to a god at the time of the solstice goes far back into human history and includes the Persians, Egyptians and Greeks.  Within these civilizations frankincense and myrrh,  which have been traded in the Middle East and North Africa for upwards of 5,000 years, were highly valued, given the same status as gold today. Frankincense and myrrh were known medicinals; used for their anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, and so much more. These are also spiritual resins burned in ritual, temples and other religious ceremony by all the mentioned civilizations. The resins were the gifts, along with gold, said to be given to the baby Jesus by the Magi.

Spices that were traded along with the resins included cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, clove and cardamom. These spices and many others were prized to the point of creating battles and interesting deals, such as the Dutch trading (more or less) to the British the island of Manhattan for rights to the nutmeg rich island of Run. Today we find nutmeg, cinnamon and other spices used in traditional holiday foods such as pumpkin pie, cookies and eggnog.

Steeped in history, developing and changing over the centuries, the use and scent of frankincense, myrrh and many spices have become the tradition of the Winter Solstice and Christmas holiday season. To enhance your environment, get you in the holiday mood - and even prevent the viruses and infections that appear at this time - you can blend essential oils of resins, evergreens, sweet florals and citruses to create a fragrant holiday environment connecting to the ancient civilizations, the rituals, the spirituality and karma of this season - careful of the karma.

Some essential oil suggestions:

Pine, spruce and fir

Orange, bergamot and mandarin

Ylang ylang, lavender and rosemary

Cinnamon bark, clove, nutmeg and cardamom

Frankincense, myrrh and elemi

Try Holiday Mingle

The aromatics of the Spice Trades, including cinnamon, nutmeg, myrrh and frankincense, with florals and citruses. Festive Winter Solstice and Holiday fragrance. Add to a diffuser or room spray for a joyfully uplifting celebratory environment. Protects from airborne virus and bacteria too.