Midsummer Festivities

Magic and Mischief

The Summer Solstice is the moment when one hemisphere of Earth is tilted most directly toward the Sun, producing the longest day and shortest night of the year. Traditionally, “the fairies dance, the flowers speak, and magic hides in every meadow.”

MidSummer. In Nordic countries, the Solstice or Midsummer is one of the biggest holidays of the year. They celebrate with dancing around maypoles, wearing flower crowns, feasting outdoors, bonfires, singing folksongs and more.

Sunrise at Stonehenge. Thousands gather to watch the sunrise align with ancient stones. Modern Druids, pagans, tourists and history enthusiasts celebrate together.

Around the World. Celebrations may include midnight swims, building bonfires (and leaping over them), and flower crowns. Indigenous people of North America mark the solstice with ceremonies honoring the Sun, harvests and wildlife.

Fairy Rings. One famous tradition involves “fairy rings”—circles of mushrooms found in fields and forests. These were believed to be places where fairies danced on Midsummer Eve. Folklore warned people not to step inside a fairy ring, lest they be whisked away into the fairy realm or lose track of time.

Join us for the Back Home Summer Solstice & Fairy Faire this summer! Get tickets …

Pickles: Relish the fun!

Pickles are Ancient

Folks have been pickling foods for over 4,000 years. Yikes! Really? Ancient Mesopotamians were preserving cucumbers in brine long before refrigerators existed. Heck, legend has it that Cleopatra believed that they helped maintain her beauty! Hmmm …

Not all Pickles are Cucumbers. Almost anything can be pickled — onions, carrots, eggs, watermelon rind, mangos and more!

On a Serious Note … pickle juice is popular with athletes who may drink pickle juice to help with muscle cramps, due to its electrolytes and sodium.

Being in a Pickle? This statement supposedly has Shakespearean roots, first mentioned in his play, The Tempest — it means you’re in trouble!

Americans Eat Billions of Pickles! The United States apparently consumes this quantity annually, especially with burgers and sandwiches.

Did you know … ? Pickles can glow under a black light! Really? Some pickles fluoresce because of compounds formed during the pickling process.

Come to the First Back Home PickleFest and enjoy a day of pickle-themed fun! Get tickets …

Worldwide Tea Customs

Tea Customs around the World

Tea customs reveal a lot about a culture’s values — hospitality, mindfulness, community and tradition. Whether served in fine china, a tiny clay cup, or a shared gourd, tea often brings people together.

Afternoon Tea in the United Kingdom was only introduced about 1840 as a fashionable social event among the upper classes. We generally follow their custom of serving it with finger sandwiches, scones with jam, and pastries.

Mint Tea is served in Morocco. The host generally pours from high above the glass to create a frothy top. Refusing tea can be considered impolite, as sharing mint tea symbolizes friendship.

Bubble Tea from Taiwan was created in the 1980s. It combines tea with chewey tapioca pearls! What began as a local innovation has become a global phenomenon. This drink is as beautiful as it is interesting.

All the Tea in China! Tea was first cultivated in China thousands of years ago. According to legend, it was discovered when tea leaves accidentally blew into a pot of boiling water. Premium varieties are treasured as gifts, much like fine wine.

We host Country Teas and special themed teas throughout the year! Find out more …

Fun Facts

Folks in Tibet often mix their tea with yak butter and salt!
The Chinese may tap two fingers on the table as a silent thanks when someone pours their tea.
Tea was so valuable in some regions that it was once used as currency.