The Dead of Winter

Some Australians have already celebrated the first day of winter, but for others, the first day of winter hasn’t arrived yet. In Australia, we follow the meteorological calendar. The first day of a new season always starts on the first day of the month that contains an equinox or a solstice, which for winter is June 1st. If you use an astronomical calendar however, the first day of a new season begins on the day of the equinox or solstice. In Melbourne, the Winter Solstice will occur on June 21st at 6.50am, marking it as the first day of winter for me.

As winter approaches, I feel a deepening connection to the goddess Demeter. During autumn and winter, Demeter mourns the loss of her daughter Persephone. At the Autumn Equinox, Persephone descends to the Underworld to begin her six month rule as Queen of the Dead. While Persephone is away, Demeter slowly withdraws her life-giving force from the Earth. The eve of the Winter Solstice is the longest night of the year, and for Demeter, it is truly a very long night. The Winter Solstice is the halfway point of her mourning, the longest she has been away from her daughter. There will be a Spring Equinox, and Persephone will return, but until then, Demeter mourns.

For those of us who have lost loved ones, there is no Spring Equinox heralding their return. We carry our grief throughout the seasons. As the years pass, there is more to grieve as we lose more loved ones. This is the natural cycle of life, but it’s not easy. Sometimes the grief gets too much and we just need to throw a blanket of winter over ourselves and have a nice, long rest. I’m ready to get under my winter blanket, but first I need to make a big bowl of warming oatmeal.

Inspired by Once Upon a Bowl of Oatmeal, a beautifully named cookbook by Annie Douglass Lima, I’ve spent the last few days experimenting with oatmeal recipes. Great oatmeal takes time to cook, even with quick cooking oats, and sometimes I’m too impatient to wait. So I decided to make overnight oats, but rather than eat them cold, I warmed them up in a saucepan. They were cooked to a creamy perfection within minutes! So, to celebrate the longest night of the year, I’ll be making overnight oats and then warming them up the next day for the solstice.

Longest Night Overnight Oats

Ingredients
(makes one serve)
1/2 cup quick cooking oats
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup water
2 tablespoons desiccated coconut
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Optional extras
extra desiccated coconut
pomegranate and raspberry jam (or your favourite jam)

Instructions
Mix all the ingredients together in a container.
Cover and refrigerate overnight.
Pour into a saucepan and heat until hot.
Pour into a serving bowl and add as many optional extras as you like.