19 December: Myrrh

Myrrh, along with frankincense and Gold was one of the gifts brought by the wise men from the east to give to the baby Jesus. An interesting fact I came across while researching this, which isn’t about myrrh but is worth mentioning, is that there’s a theory that the gold they brought wasn’t, as we tend to assume, the precious metal but another type of plant or herb, such as turmeric, which is a golden colour. Back to myrrh, and 10 facts about it:

1. Myrrh is the sap of the myrrh tree, Commiphora myrrha, which is native to Oman, Yemen, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Somalia and Kenya.
2. The word is derived from the Arabic word “murr” meaning bitter.
3. It was once more valuable than gold, and has been transported and traded for millennia. The Incense Road from the Arabian Peninsula to India and China has been in existence for over 5000 years. In the 1st century, Arabia produced about 448 tons of myrrh each year.
4. It was known and used in ancient Egypt, including being an ingredient for embalming Mummies. Queen Hatshepsut’s tomb fresco shows her plantation of myrrh trees from Punt (present day Somalia). There is just one Egyptian fresco which shows a king gardening – the 5^th dynasty king Sahure, and it shows him tending a myrrh tree.
5. Myrrh is mentioned in the Old Testament of the Bible as well as the New. Joseph was sold by his brothers to traders who had "Camels loaded with spices, balm, and myrrh". Liquid myrrh was used by Moses to make his sacred anointing oil; and by Solomon to make incense for the holy temple.
6. In the New Testament, it was present at the time of Christ’s death, as well as his birth. Not only was it mixed with the wine Jesus was offered as he was dying, it was also used to embalm his body.
7. Myrrh gets a mention in Islamic holy texts, too – in the Hadith of Muhammad, Muhammad advises people to "Fumigate your houses with mugwort, myrrh and thyme.”
8. It is used as a healing herb and essential oil to this day. It is used as an ingredient for mouthwashes, gargles, toothpastes, liniments and healing salves. It has been suggested as a cure for toothache, indigestion, ulcers, colds, cough, asthma, lung congestion, arthritis, and even cancer. In Chinese medicine it is said to purge stagnant Blood from the uterus and be good for the Heart, spleen and liver. It is prescribed, therefore, for circulatory problems and for menopause and other issues connected with menstruation. Vets use horse tincture, which contains myrrh, for healing wounds in animals.
9. Also, myrrh is often an ingredient of high end skincare products. Adding a drop of the essential oil to shampoo helps keep the scalp hydrated. It’s also said to promote feelings of spirituality and is used during yoga or meditation.
10. The name ‘myrrh’ is also used to refer to the herb sweet cicely, Myrrhis oderata. This was a strewing herb, used by Medieval and Tudor people to make their houses smell sweeter.

A Very Variant Christmas

Last year, Jade and Gloria were embroiled in a bitter conflict to win back their throne and their ancestral home. This year, Queen Jade and Princess Gloria want to host the biggest and best Christmas party ever in their palace. They invite all their friends to come and bring guests. Not even the birth of Jade's heir just before Christmas will stop them.

The guest list includes most of Britain's complement of super-powered crime-fighters, their families and friends. What could possibly go wrong?

Gatecrashers, unexpected arrivals, exploding Christmas crackers and a kidnapping, for starters.

Far away in space, the Constellations, a cosmic peacekeeping force, have suffered a tragic loss. They need to recruit a new member to replace their dead colleague. The two top candidates are both at Jade and Gloria's party. The arrival of the recruitment delegation on Christmas Eve is a surprise for everyone; but their visit means one guest now faces a life-changing decision.

Meanwhile, an alliance of the enemies of various guests at the party has infiltrated the palace; they hide in the dungeon, plotting how best to get rid of the crime-fighters and the royal family once and for all. Problem is, they all have their own agendas and differences of opinion on how to achieve their aims.

Not to mention that this year, the ghosts who walk the corridors of the palace on Christmas Eve will be as surprised by the living as the living are by them.

Themes 

Christmas; superheroes; reunions; parties; life choices; shocking surprises; mistaken identity; kidnap and rescue.

Reasons not to read it

• It's a bit short. You could probably read it in one sitting.
• Most of the action takes place at a Christmas party. In a palace.
• It's all about Christmas but there doesn't seem to be a schmaltzy moral message.
• There are a couple of babies and some small children in it - and one nearly gets eaten.
• Santa appears in it, but he isn't really Santa.
• Superheroes. Again.
• Not to mention a whole bunch of super-villains. Again all new ones and not the ones we know from Marvel or DC.

Available from Amazon and Amazon Kindle