MISTLETOE
By Kelly and Makenzie
WHAT IS MISTLETOE?
It is a leathery-leaved parasitic plant that grows on
apple, oak, and other broadleaf trees and bears
white berries in winter.
WHAT IS MISTLETOE? (CONT.)
But mistletoe is also capable for growing on its
own; like other plants it can produce its own food by
photosynthesis.
MISTLETOE MAGIC
From the earliest times mistletoe has been one of the most magical,
mysterious, and sacred plants of European folklore.
The mistletoe of the sacred oak was especially sacred to the ancient Celtic
Druids. On the sixth night of the moon white-robed Druid priests would
cut the oak mistletoe with a golden sickle.
Later, the ritual of cutting the mistletoe from the oak came to symbolize
the demoralization of the old King by his successor.
It was gathered at both mid-summer and winter solstices, and the custom
of using it to decorate houses at Christmas is a survival of the Druid and
other pre-Christian traditions.
RELIGIOUS SIGNIFICANCE
As ancient European people interacted with their environment and began to reason
why certain things were the way they were, they developed an intense interest in trees.
This eventually led to another Christmas ritual that has survived almost to the
present, along with the seasonal ritual use of mistletoe. As part of a series of rituals,
they burned logs around the time of the winter solstice.
After conversion of the people to Christianity, the tradition of burning logs was
changed to begin early on Christmas eve. A log was to be kept burning all night, and
this culminated in a great celebration on Christmas morning. This yuletide custom of
burning the Yule log was widely practiced until only a few decades ago, and probably
ceased with the advent of centralized heating. The decline in the use of mistletoe
probably was due to other factors.
MISTLETOE AND CHURCH HISTORY
When Christianity became widespread in Europe after
the 3rd century AD, the religious or mystical respect for
the mistletoe plant was integrated to an extent into the
new religion. In some way that is not presently
understood, this may have led to the widespread custom
of kissing under the mistletoe plant during the Christmas
season, possibly relating to the belief in the effects on
fertility and conception.
UNDER THE MISTLETOE
The earliest documented case of kissing under the mistletoe
dates from 16th century England, a custom that was
apparently very popular at that time.
At Christmas time a young lady standing under a ball of
mistletoe, brightly trimmed with evergreens, ribbons, and
ornaments, cannot refuse to be kissed.
Such a kiss could mean deep romance or lasting friendship
and goodwill.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=voyPOMgAMYU