The innocuous mistletoe plant, now used to cop a cheap kiss or two, was once considered to be a sacred plant by the ancient Druids. They believed that mistletoe could cure sicknesses and shield its owner from evil forces such as witches or ghosts. Druids gathered the plant at winter solstice, just days before we now celebrate Christmas. With great solemnity and ritual, they cut the mistletoe with a golden sickle reserved solely for this purpose. So sacred was the mistletoe to the Druids that they did not allow the plant to touch the ground, which probably explains why we still hang mistletoe over our doorways. The Druids believed that by placing the mistletoe over the their doorways, they could not only protect the health and safety of all who passed through but also promote romance and fertility. If a boy kissed a girl under the mistletoe and gave one of the plant’s white berries to the kisses, the ritual meant they would get married withing the year. Ironically, although mistletoe is now associated with Christmas, the Christians in Celtic regions, ashamed of their Pagan antecedents, did everything possible to dissociate themselves from the belief in the power of mistletoe. But the practice took hold. And although a smooch under the mistletoe no longer promises marriage, at least we’ve retained the fun part of the ritual. Submitted by Brian Hart of Bala Cynwyd Pennsylvania. |
