History of Mistletoe~
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| Mistletoe |
Welcome my dearest friends & followers to my humble
blog, I hope you will enjoy this Christmas ancient legend of
the Mistletoe. In ancient times, the mistletoe was thought of as the plant of peace and friendship. If enemies met under a tree which mistletoe has grown, they would lay down under the tree lay down their arms and call a truce for the rest of the day. If friends met beneath a tree that bears mistletoe, they would consider their friendship to be blessed with good luck. Kissing under mistletoe has become a custom that was once founded only in England. Foreign visitors that would come to England in the sixteenth century were often surprised how often men and women would exchange kisses in greeting and in parting with the Mistletoe. Perhaps it was this practice, as well as the belief that mistletoe was a plant of friendship, that led to the Christmas tradition. An large bough of mistletoe would be picked to form the centre of a huge garland to be hung in the center of a room or hallway. So if any young woman who stood beneath the garland would expect to receive a kiss. It would also bring her luck and ensure a woman in her marriage to come. She also had the right to pluck a berry from the mistletoe for every kiss she received. Once the sprig had no more berries, it was no longer lucky to kiss under it. After the Twelfth Night Hour the mistletoe would be burned, otherwise the young men and women who kissed under it might never marry it was said. In some places, one sprig of mistletoe would be put away to be kept all year to bring luck to the household. If a newborn was brought into the world, a piece of the mistletoe would be placed in the cradle to keep the child from harm.[note that mistletoe is harmful if eaten so I wonder about this ancient tradition] Sometimes a sprig of mistletoe world be given to a cow that had calved to bring good luck to the herd. An ancient name for mistletoe was 'The Wood of the Holy Cross.'
Mistletoe was never taken into a church at any time. This was because of a legend that tells how mistletoe wood was used to make a cross on which Christ died. Afterwards, all mistletoe shrank to its present size in shame and anguish.
Mistletoe also is very important to the Druids. The Arch Druid is said to cut the mistletoe with a golden sickle every November for the coming holiday season. Lastly, mistletoe was put in a white cloth by four virgins and then utilised in the ritual sacrifice of white oxen, thought to be an alternative to human sacrifice.
There are probably other uses, but these were just
a few that I could find. Happy Holidays
YOUR FRIEND ALWAYS
WENDY
