Cranberry Solstice

Ancient glaciers once crept across North America and slowly melted away, leaving behind deep hollows in the earth. These pockets filled with rain and over time, became the cool, peat-rich bogs where wild cranberries would one day bloom.

To the native peoples, these ruby berries were a staple as they were used in different medicines and for nourishment. The Wampanoag and Algonquin tribes gathered them each autumn and allowed the fruits to brighten and dry through the long dark months, then turned them into foods such as pemmican, which is a calorie-dense food that carried them through the harsh winter. They also created a paste that was used to treat wounds and prevent infections.

When European settlers arrived, they saw the pale blossoms bowing over the bog water, like cranes searching for fish. They called crane-berries, which softened over the years into “cranberry”.

But the bogs hold more than berries. Beneath the blossoms live little guardians called bog spiders (most commonly ground-dwelling wolf spiders). Far from frightening, these small hunters are essential to the health of the bog. They feast on pests that threaten cranberry vines, keeping the ecosystem in balance without ever disturbing the berries themselves. They are nature’s protectors, watching over the harvest.

Over the centuries, these berries found their way to holiday tables, symbolizing warmth and renewal at the turning of the year. During Yule, cranberries are often strung and hung as a charm to bring good luck, color, and light to winter’s darkest days.