Yes, it seems as if we are always learning something new about mushrooms. For example, today we stumbled across the fact that the Fly Amanita (Amanita muscaria) is a good luck symbol associated with Christmas and New Year’s in many parts of Europe.
Our first acquaintance with Amanita muscaria as a holiday ornament was last Christmas when we purchased a crocheted ornament at the Trondenes Historical Center in Harstad, Norway, where the gift shop was proudly displaying a basket of them.
Stuffed with a light fiber filling, our specimen measures about 4 inches in height and about 3 ½ inches at the widest part of the cap. The stem and underside of the mushroom are snowy white while the cap is a brilliant red and dotted with white pearls which have been sewn onto the crocheted top. As you can see from the photograph, there is a 4 inch, black and white braided loop anchored in the center of the red cap so that it can easily be displayed during this festive time of year.
Back on the forest floor, Amanita muscaria is generally considered a poisonous mushroom. Still, it does have a noteworthy history of being consumed for its hallucinogenic properties in such far flung places as Siberia, the Middle East, and Scandinavia. So, how did this much maligned mushroom (both poisonous and hallucinogenic) become linked to Christmas and New Year’s celebrations?
Just ask Greg Marley, the author of Chanterelle Dreams, Amanita Nightmares: The Love, Lore, and Mystique of Mushrooms and be prepared to be thoroughly entertained by the answer. Hint: consider the fact that Santa Claus wears red and white, wanders around the world in a sleigh pulled by flying reindeer one of whom is noted for its red nose … are the reindeer high flying or simply high?
And, who is Greg Marley? He describes himself as a "devoted amateur mycologist" but he's much more. He's a mushroom identification consultant to the Northern New England Poison Control Center, owner of Mushrooms for Health (a company that provides education and products made with Maine medicinal mushrooms), and an award winning author. His book on the love, lore and mystique of mushrooms was the 2011 recipient of the International Association of Culinary Professionals Jane Grigson Award as well as a 2011 Finalist of the International Association of Culinary Professionals in the Culinary History category.
Mr. Marley offers a unique insight into the relationship between Amanita muscaria and our yuletide holidays in Chanterelle Dreams, Amanita Nightmares, and I'm thinking this book would be a great, belated holiday present to ourselves!
August 27, 2017 Update to this Post: We recently encountered "Jen Reviews" and wish to wholeheartedly recommend his comments on Norway to you: 100 Best Things To Do In Norway.
In fact, Steven had the opportunity to visit Lofotem Krigsminnemuseum (No. 62 on the list of 100 Best Things To Do In Norway) and declares that it is an absolute gem! It contains an amazing collection of artifacts from World War II, including some surprisingly good paintings by Adolf Hitler himself (among them, some dwarfs from Snow White!). If you are fortunate enough to visit when William Hakvaag, the owner and developer of this outstanding museum, is present, even better; he's phenomenally knowledgeable of the history his museum puts on display. If people knew how good this museum is, no visitor to this town would EVER miss it!