I made mulled cider last night. The only cider I could get at short notice - this is my excuse, it was actually just a case of laziness and going no further than the shop over the road - the only cider Londis had to offer, rather was a 2 litre bottle of Strongbow. I squeaked that I was 25 over the counter and scuttled off with my teenage beverage.
There is something about a saucepan full of liquid accompanied with a few cloves and maybe orange slices, that brings to mind Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. Dickens invented a festive drink called smoking bishop consisting of red wine, ruby port and various spices and fruits. It is a part of Scrooge’s glee, joy and relief on the Christmas day following the ghost's visitations. “We will discuss your affairs this very afternoon, over a Christmas bowl of smoking bishop, Bob!” The exhilaration of the redemption reached in A Christmas Carol never fails to make me feel buoyant; it is wonderfully timeless.
Another redemptive tale is the 1947 film The Bishop’s Wife, in which Cary Grant plays an angel instructed to help a struggling, distracted Bishop realise his true priorities. The situation inevitably leans towards treacherous when Cary Grant starts to develop feelings for the bishop’s wife and has to leave his earthly form behind, leaving the bishop and his wife to rekindle their love over a ‘big bowl of cider’ (hence the very tenuous link..)
There is something about a large quantity of hot beverage being shared that makes me think of winter and, subsequently, hope and redemption. What is this? Is it the idea of communion between people during the winter? (and therefore, perhaps times of struggle.) It is infinitely soothing to stand over a steaming liquid (preferably with an alcohol content), see it reflect shards of golden light - that light is going to be swallowed too - and feel the warm steam on your chilly, maybe slightly sickly looking face, with eyes watering. Then to fetch a ladle or giant spoon when sufficiently infused and share it out into various receptacles...or just create and share it with yourself. Rejoice in the reward and ceremony of it, and whatever has preceded this act. Maybe you’d been visited by some monstrous spirits, a slightly untrustworthy angel, or had a health scare, an argument with a loved one or a low, clammy day thinking about the state of the world. The continual ability to redeem or renew ourselves and others is, to me, a tremendous relief. Thank God, or Dickens, or cider, or even yourself!