| Issue #31, October 27, 2006 |
Make It A Three-Dog-Night
We all want to keep warm this winter. And in this age of new-fangled heating systems, you can walk around your house in your underwear all year long, if you want. But, in these days of high oil and gas prices, some may choose to turn off their heaters for a while, and employ these time-tested methods instead.
In the Medieval times, they kept those drafty stone castles toasty all winter long by covering every wall, table and bench with carpets and tapestries. They didn’t put carpets or tapestries on the ground, but they did cover the floor with rushes and herbs to cushion the feet and seal out the cold. Of course, they also had those huge, walk-in fireplaces, and often the wall opposite the fireplace was thickened so that it absorbed the heat, too. And don’t forget those fur blankets and feather beds, which also helped on a cold winter’s night.
European Medieval cold can’t even compare to the long, long winter days and nights on the Aleutian Islands in Alaska. Eskimos in the Aleutian Islands sleep under fur blankets, and pile their living, breathing, heat-emitting dogs on there, too. The expression “3-dog-night” is used by Eskimos, as well as Australian Aboriginals, to connote a very cold night that requires not one, not two, but three dogs on the bed to keep warm. Eskimos also have a built-in heating advantage, in that their traditional diet is rich in fat, and a nice, healthy layer of subcutaneous (under-skin) fat keeps them insulated naturally.
The Japanese didn’t always have heated houses, and many Japanese people prefer not to heat their houses, even in colder regions. Instead, they rely on the Kotatsu, which is a round electric or charcoal stove with a tabletop over it, placed in a circular depression in the main room of the house. The whole family’s winter activities happen at the Kotatsu, and they all sit around it, with a big blanket draped over the stove and their laps to keep warm. The only catch to this strategy is that you have to like spending time with your family. All the time.
If it sounds expensive, or downright ridiculous to deck out your modern, American house with these warm-up methods, that’s because it is. But you can always modify them. For instance, instead of draping hand-sewn, silver-threaded Medieval tapestries on your walls, you could get some rugs with nice patterns, or blankets, or even beach towels and nail them to the walls. (What else are you going to do, use them for picnics?)
If you’ve got a fireplace, then use it; that’s pretty Medieval, and you can throw some herbs, like sage, rosemary and thyme, into the flames for that medieval-castle smell (and spill some beer on there, too, or mead if you want it to smell authentic).
Feather beds are still in production and are worth the splurge if you plan to do most of your winter warming-up in bed. As far as fur blankets are concerned, skip the animal skins and try a nice down comforter with a faux-fur cover. It will look and feel just as luxurious, but if you spill your mead on it, you can throw it in the wash and have it back on the bed in an hour or two.
If you’re still cold, then do as the Eskimos do and sleep under a Lab or two. They’ll be so happy to be allowed on your bed, the just might emit twice as much heat as before (from excited panting and overall exuberance.) Also, be sure to eat plenty of fattening food to build up that layer of subcutaneous fat you’ve been working on. And don’t forget that alcohol raises your body temperature, too, so just imagine what a glass of hot, buttered rum or spiked apple cider can do for you this winter.
Outside of bed, Japanese methods work best. Since you probably have electricity in your house, plug in a heated blanket and huddle under it with your honey. Heated blankets are more versatile and portable than Kotatsus, and, in America at least, huddling up with your family isn’t half as much fun as playing footsie with your sweetie. One of the very best ways to keep warm is to conserve heat by getting as close to another body as you can. In short, all you have to do to save money on heating this winter, keep warm and possibly even save your love life is turn off that heater and get creative.
–Sabrina C. Mashburn
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