Turn ‘Blue Monday’ orange
January 25 is predicted to be 2010’s most depressing day of the year,* due to gloomy weather, debt levels, time elapsed since Christmas and broken New Year Resolutions, which is why The World’s Original Marmalade Festival is urging everyone to turn the day dubbed ‘Blue Monday’ orange!
The Festival, which takes place on February 14 in 2010 at Dalemain Mansion and Historic Gardens near Penrith in Cumbria, celebrates all things marmalade – the ultimate comfort food and pick-me-up.
Over 600 entries of home-made and artisan produced marmalade were submitted last year, for a contest that has 11 categories – some as quirky as man-made and clergy – and which raises money for charity through entry fees and admissions to the Festival itself.
The ideal time to make marmalade is January, when Seville oranges come in to shops and supermarkets just in time to lift the Blue Monday spirits.
Making a batch of marmalade on Blue Monday 2010 is not just a great idea for those wishing to help raise money for charity and potentially win a prize. Marmalade makers across the globe confirm there is nothing to uplift one’s mood as much as the smell of citrus, the physical preparation of shred and the sight of vibrant oranges that seemingly spread rays of pure sunshine.
Author D H Lawrence also appreciated the therapeutic nature of marmalade making. Writing to Arthur McLeod from a villa on Lake Garda, Lawrence stated: “I got the blues thinking of the future, so I left off and made some marmalade. It’s amazing how it cheers one up to shred oranges and scrub the floor.”
The date of that letter was Friday, January 17, 1913 – perhaps leading up to 1913’s equivalent of Blue Monday.
The World’s Original Marmalade Festival’s founder, Jane Hasell-McCosh, says: “January 25, 2010 – or Blue Monday as it will be known – will be a perfect day to make marmalade and submit it for judging at the Festival.
“We will accept entries in all categories up to February 7, 2010, and would love to see not only jars rolling in, but also comments relating to the joy of making marmalade and its therapeutic effect on the spirits.”
Artisan makers could lift their blues in a different way, as anyone winning a double gold standard in the Artisan category will be able to have their marmalade sold in Fortnum & Mason, Piccadilly, London.
Details of how to enter the competition and a downloadable entry form are available at marmaladefestival.com for anyone wanting to turn the blues orange.
