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| Sunday, 18 December 2005 |
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O! Mistletoe!
It was also the plant of peace in Scandinavian antiquity. If enemies met by chance beneath it in a forest, they laid down their arms and maintained a truce until the next day. Mistletoe was used by the Druid priesthood in a very special ceremony held around this time...five days after the New Moon following winter solstice, to be precise. The Druid priests would cut mistletoe from a holy oak tree with a golden sickle. The branches had to be caught before they touched the ground. Celts believed this parasitic plant held the soul of the host tree. The priest then divided the branches into many sprigs and distributed them to the people, who hung them over doorways as protection against thunder, lightning and other evils. The folklore, and the magical powers of this plant, blossomed over the centuries A sprig placed in a baby's cradle would protect the child from faeries. Giving a sprig to the first cow calving after New Year would protect the entire herd. And so forth. Now for the kissing part. Although many sources say that kissing under the mistletoe is a purely English custom, there's another, more charming explanation for its origin that extends back into Norse mythology. It's the story of a loving, if overprotective, mother. What is Mistletoe? Mistletoe is a aerial parasitic plant that grows high in the boughs of trees. The Mistletoe does not have roots and is dependent on its host for survival. Although it is mainly associated with Oak trees in Celtic mythology, the European variety grows on deciduous trees. The Latin name for American mistletoe, Phoradendron serotinum, means "Phora" - Greek for thief, and "dendron" - for tree, in reference to the fact that mistletoe sends its roots into the host tree, robbing it of nutrients. Mistletoe is propagated primarily by birds who deposit the berries during flight. These berries quickly root in their new home and in some places, trees are green in winter from the Mistletoe they host. The Druids believed mistletoe fell from heaven and grew onto a tree that sprang from Earth. Mistletoe thus represented the joining of heaven and earth, and God's reconciliation with mankind. A kiss under mistletoe symbolized acceptance and reconciliation. Holly
Holly is one of the symbols most commonly associated with Christmas and has been used in this holiday's celebration for close to two thousand years. Although the mention of holly today conjures images of wreaths, it actually had religious significance long before it's adoption by Christianity. There are around 400 natural types of holly (and many more artificially created hybrids), but the one people are most people are familiar with is Ilex aquifolium, or "English/Christmas Holly" as it's commonly known. It is a coniferous (evergreen/softwood) plant that can be found in many parts of the world. It's climatic preferences run along the same lines as those of Goldilocks, not too warm but not too cold. English holly grows best in moist soil in direct sunlight, but it can tolerate partial shade as well. Hot and dry conditions are the least optimal. In addition to being associated with the Sun God (Saturn) in ancient Rome, holly was important in Pagan/Druidic religion and customs. Under many Pagan religions, it was customary to place holly leaves and branches around their dwellings during winter. This was intended as a kindly and hospitable gesture; they believed that the tiny fairies which inhabited the forests could come into their homes and use the holly as shelter against the cold. This may actually have had some basis in fact, as holly growing in the wild is often used as shelter by small animals, primarily insects. Christmas Tree
The modern Christmas tree was likely born in the 8th century, when St. Boniface was converting the Germanic tribes. The tribes worshipped oak trees, decorating them for the winter solstice. St. Boniface cut down an enormous oak tree, that was central to the worship of a particular tribe, but a fir tree grew in its place. The evergreen was offered as a symbol of Christianity, which the newly converted Germans began decorating for Christmas. Prince Albert, who was German, introduced the Christmas tree to England after his marriage to Queen Victoria in 1840. German immigrants to Pennsylvania brought Christmas trees to America. Yule Log The word yule meant "infant" in the language of the Chaldeans, who lived in the Middle East. The Germanic tribes of Northern Europe, including the Anglo Saxons, celebrated "Yule-day" or "Child's Day." The custom of the Yule log has been noted in France and Italy as far back as the 1200s. It later spread throughout Europe. On Christmas Eve an enormous log would be cut and placed in the hearth. The log would be sprinkled with salt, oil, and mulled wine, and prayers said to protect the house from the Devil and lightning. In some regions, the daughters of the family lit the log with splinters of the previous year's log. In other regions, the lady of the house had the honor of lighting the log. As iron stoves replaced giant hearths in the 1800s, Yule logs became decorative, often being used as Christmas centerpieces and decorated with evergreens and candles. Cooks began creating pastry Yule logs, rolled cakes covered in chocolate or coffee and decorated with sugared holly and roses. Christmas Cards
In 1843, British businessman Sir Henry Cole asked artist John Calcott Horsley to print some Christmas cards. One thousand cards were printed in black and white and then colored by hand. The cards, which depicted a happy family raising a toast to the recipient, were criticized for promoting drunkenness. In 1851 Richard Pease, a variety store owner, commissioned the first printed Christmas card in the U.S. London printers Charles Goodall & Sons became the first to mass-produce Christmas cards. In 1862 they created cards saying "A Merry Christmas." Later, they designed cards with various designs, including robins, holly, mangers, snowmen, and even Little Red Riding Hood. Santa Claus
His feast day, December 6, became a children's holiday in Holland, where he is known as Sint Nikolaas. English colonists in New York (previously the Dutch colony of New Amsterdam) called him "Santa Claus" because they couldn't pronounce the Dutch name. The English began celebrating the feast day on Christmas. |
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Also known as the golden bough. Held sacred by
both the Celtic Druids and the Norseman. Once called Allheal, used in folk
medicine to cure many ills. North American Indians used it for toothache,
measles and dog bites. Today the plant is still used medicinally, though
only in skilled hands...it's a powerful plant. 
One of the most popular Christmastime accoutrements, holly has sharp
edges, symbolic of the crown of thorns worn by Jesus at his crucifixion.
The red berries represent blood. 
The practice of tree worship has been found in many ancient cultures.
Often, trees were brought indoors and decorated to ensure a good crop for
the coming year. Trees have also been linked to divinity. Egyptians
associated a palm tree with the god Baal-Tamar, while the Greeks and
Romans believed that the mother of Adonis was changed into a fir tree.
Adonis was one of her branches brought to life. 
The custom of sending Christmas cards started in Victorian England.
Earlier, some adults had written Christmas letters. But letters took time
to write; and people wanting to share season's greetings with many others
had a daunting task. 
Patron saint of children and sailors, Saint Nicholas was a 4th-century
bishop from Asia Minor. He was famous for giving gifts to children. 
