What’s the story between Santa + shrooms? Hundreds of years ago Indigenous peoples in the Arctic would have winter solstice ceremonies, and some still do today. Shamans collect Amanita muscaria, which has powerful hallucinogenic properties, and they guide rituals using this mushroom. When ingested fresh, the toxicity of Amanita muscaria mushrooms is high, so before taking it, they dehydrate them on branches of pines or put them in socks and spread them over the fire, closely resembling the Christmas tradition of hanging Christmas stockings over chimneys. Shamans would then either ingest the dried mushrooms or drink urine of reindeer who had eaten them. Then, the hallucinations and reactions of the amanita would start, such as feelings of joy, desire to sing, and/or increased muscle tone. Shamans’ psychotropic journeys are believed to be related to the idea that Santa Claus travels with his sleigh and reindeer through the skies to deliver gifts. The gift given by these shamans was the knowledge that the mushroom gave them, in addition to sharing portions of it among those present. What do you think of the story behind Amanita mushrooms and Santa claus? - @queerbrownvegan Source: Ffungi, Inhabitat, and LiveScience #wildfoodlove #amanitamuscaria #flyagaric #🍄 #flyagaricmushroom #scandinavianchristmas #mushroomlove #christmasstory #christmasholidays #christmasholiday #mycology #sustainability #historyofchristmas #holidayseason2022 #theholidaysarehere #christmasstories #northernwinter #lore