The Truth about Mistletoe

You can call it the emasculator of the old king, a sexual symbol, latent with fertility or a good luck charm for a dairy herd. It's been used as an antidote for poison, a fire suppressant, a protection against evil spirits, a pain reliever for rheumatoid arthritis and as a gift of peace between warring neighbours. This parasitic shrub with sticky white berries has somehow shrugged off its shady past to become a tradition of our Christmas. But this is, after all, a season of myth, legend, and make believe.

Today mistletoe, while not exactly decking our halls, is hung over doorways to entice a couple to exchange a kiss. And we have forgotten even the meaning of its name.

The name is perhaps derived from the ancient belief that mistletoe was propagated from bird droppings, a belief related to the then-accepted principle that life could spring spontaneously from dung. It was observed in ancient times that mistletoe would often appear on a branch or twig where birds had left droppings. "Mistel" is one of the Anglo-Saxon words for "dung," and "tan" is "twig". So, mistletoe means "dung-on-a-twig". Not a name that would normally encourage thoughts of romance.

Kissing under the mistletoe was practiced in the Greek festival of Saturnalia to bestow fertility and the dung from which the mistletoe was thought to arise was honoured for its life-giving power. From the earliest times mistletoe has been one of the most magical, mysterious, and sacred plants of European folklore.

Scandivanians enjoy kissing under the mistletoe. In earlier days they associated mistletoe with their goddess Freya and the part it played in the death of her son, Baldur the Beautiful. Once Baldur had a dream of his own death and, frantic in her anxiety, Freya asked all things, living and dead, not to harm him. She was given this promise by everything in the elements, but the mistletoe, a parasite, was no part of air or earth. Alas ! It was overlooked ! Loki the Trickster soon discovered this, and made an arrow from the little shrub. He tricked poor blind Bod into shooting the arrow at Baldur - with the inevitable result. The mistletoe grieved for its part in the tragedy, weeping until its red berries turned pale, and Freya forgave the plant with a kiss. Vikings used a branch to betoken peace.

Mistletoe is especially interesting botanically because it's a partial parasite. French tradition tells us that mistletoe is poisonous because it was growing on a tree that was used to make the cross of Jesus. Because of this, it was cursed and denied a place to live and grow on earth, doomed forever to be a parasite.

The mistletoe of the sacred oak was especially sacred to the ancient Celtic Druids. The ritual of cutting the mistletoe symbolised the emasculation of the old King by his successor. Mistletoe was long regarded as both a sexual symbol and the "soul" of the oak. It was gathered at both mid-summer and winter solstices, and the custom of using mistletoe to decorate houses at Christmas is a survival of this tradition.

In medieval times branches of mistletoe were hung from ceilings to ward off evil spirits and placed over house and stable doors to prevent the entrance of witches. Farmers would give the Christmas bunch of mistletoe to the first cow that calved in the New Year thus bringing good luck to the entire herd.

Mistletoe is also believed to lower blood pressure, improve circulation and relieve the pain of rheumatoid arthritis although these effects have not been scientifically validated. In some alternative medicine therapies, mistletoe is used as long-term therapy to prevent hardening of the arteries.

If you hang up mistletoe this Christmas, please follow the correct etiquette: a man should pluck a berry when he kisses a woman under the mistletoe, and when the last berry is gone, there should be no more kissing ! Remember that an unmarried woman not kissed under the branch will remain single for another year, and always burn the Christmas mistletoe on the twelfth night lest all the couples who kissed under it never marry.

Come, kiss me under the dung-on-a-twig and raise your glass to mistletoe and a Merry Christmas!

Susanna Duffy is a Civil Celebrant, grief counsellor and mythologist. She creates ceremonies and Rites of Passage for individual and civic functions, and specialises in Celebrations for Women

---

10 Tips for More Meaningful Holidays

No matter how many lists you make, cards you send,... Read More

A Christmas Tradition - Vintage Ornaments

Traditional hand-blown glass Christmas ornaments never seem to go out... Read More

The Five Best Cigar-Related Fathers Day Gifts

According to a recent study by the internet cigar retailer... Read More

Cashless Gifts

Sometimes gifts that are truly from your heart have no... Read More

EASTER: The Bunny and The Egg

Ever wonder why there's an "Easter Bunny"? Ever wonder why... Read More

Magical Plants of Christmas

Most of the plants we associate with the holiday season... Read More

Vastu Tips to Reduce Holiday Stress

Fun, though they are intended to be, The Holidays can... Read More

Online Shopping: Tips For Holidays Gift Shopping

It is holidays time, and you've the money and you... Read More

Give Presence Not Presents

Throughout the year we have many gift-giving opportunities to show... Read More

9 Fantastic Formulas for a Stress Free Holiday!

The holidays are officially here. And so the season for... Read More

Low On Cash For Christmas? Try Gifts in a Jar

Time is money, and right now you don't have either... Read More

Thanksgiving Memories

Turkey ... Stuffing ... Cranberry Sauce ... Pumpkin PieThis is... Read More

Planning a Spectacular Christmas Party

The holiday season is typically filled with large fancy parties,... Read More

Free Christian Ecard and Christian Ecards

A free Christian ecard is comprised of inspirational quotes, musical... Read More

Tips to Save Time & Money; Christmas Shopping Online

So Christmas is a few months away. Seems like a... Read More

Outside the Box Gingerbread Houses

Beyond trees and wreaths, there are few symbols of the... Read More

Mothers Day Gift Ideas

Do you remember the days when your mother used to... Read More

Little Helpers in the Holiday Kitchen

The holiday season is a wonderful opportunity to allow your... Read More

Single During the Holidays

Mistletoe. Holiday parties. New Years kiss at midnight. This time... Read More

10 Holiday Sober Savers 2004

1.) BEGIN NOW !!!Don't save your shopping, decorating, cooking, wrapping,... Read More

Gypsy Fortune Teller Halloween Costumes ? Easy to Make

As a little girl I often loved to dress up... Read More

Fitness Tips On How To Avoid Gaining Weight During The Holiday Season

This holiday season don't be trendy ? avoid the Seasonal... Read More

Mothers Day: 5 Gift Ideas Guaranteed To Make Any New Mom Happy

Sure, you can call it a Hallmark holiday. But don't... Read More

Top 5 Ways for an ADD Adult to Have a Happy Holiday

Holidays have the potential to send an adult with Attention... Read More

Christmas Mourning

Deecember is a cruel month. Christmas sales, decorations, advertisements -everyone... Read More

Tis The Season For Love ? and Stress!

The holidays are upon us and for many people this... Read More

Holiday Times Are For Helping Those Less Fortunate, Think Holiday Cards

Every year I watch as advertisers begin to promote their... Read More

No Paws from Santa Claus

The Holidays are coming and children have thought long and... Read More

New Year?s Resolution ? Why Not Resolve To Take Back Your Life?

It's time once again for the dreaded New Year's Resolutions.... Read More

Christmas Gift Ideas

Christmas is such a special day. It is a day... Read More

Gift Wrapping Ideas

If you're tired of your gifts looking like everyone else's,... Read More

Fourth of July Safety

Of all the holidays throughout the year, the Fourth of... Read More

Holiday Expectations

As the holidays approach, I find myself wondering how I'm... Read More