Bedford Falls: A Simmer Pot & Spell Kit
Bedford Falls: A Simmer Pot & Spell Kit
For Gratitude for Your Life, House Blessing, Friendship, and Hope When the Holidays Feel Heavy
I don't care how many times I've seen It's a Wonderful Life. When George Bailey comes running down that snowy street yelling "Merry Christmas!" at everything he passes, I cry every single time.
At its heart it's a story for anybody who's ever felt like their life didn't amount to much. George gives up every dream he has for other people, and on the worst night of his life he's ready to quit. It takes an angel showing him the world without him in it for him to see how many lives he'd touched without ever knowing it. When he finds Zuzu's petals back in his pocket, he knows he's home.
This simmer pot is for the years when the holidays feel heavy. It's a reminder that you matter more than you know, and that you're richer in friends than you might think. Set it on the stove on Christmas Eve and let your house fill up with orange, spice and pine.
What's in the pot, and why:
Dried rose petals: for Zuzu's petals, the little pocketful that tells George he's home
Coarse salt, oats and raisins: for Mary's new-house blessing to the Martini family, with bread, salt and wine, so the house never goes hungry, life never loses its flavor, and joy stays forever
Star anise: for the stars talking up in heaven at the start of the film
Apple rings: for the moon George promised to lasso for Mary
Cinnamon and cloves: for the warmth of the Bailey house
Orange: for home and hearth in Bedford Falls
A sprig of pine: for the Christmas tree with its little bell
The working: Set aside one rose petal for later. Drop the rest in first while you name someone whose life you've touched, maybe without ever knowing it. Add the other ingredients and make a wish, the way George and Mary did when they threw rocks at the old Granville house. Then ring the bell over the pot and speak the charm. While it simmers, write down the people who'd fill your basket if you were ever in trouble, the way all of Bedford Falls did for George. Then call or text one of them and tell them you're thankful for them. On Christmas morning, pour the cooled water at your front door, and keep that saved rose petal in your coat pocket all through the new year.
Inside your kit:
One Bedford Falls simmer blend in a sealed pouch
A brass bell for the working
An illustrated instruction card with the charm and ritual
Handmade by Primitive Witchery Brews in Kingsport, Tennessee.
