2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Before the Christmas tree entered the homes of Christians (mid-19th century), Christmas in England was decorated with evergreen mistletoe branches, from which they built a structure similar to today's miniature Christmas tree. Fruits (oranges, pears, apples) were hung from a wire frame, entwined with mistletoe greens, and candles were attached to it. An elegant Christmas tree was hung from the ceiling
Druids and mistletoe
The closed caste of the Druids among the ancient Celtic peoples was a "living book". They carefully kept in their heads the myths and heroic legends of past generations, passing them on from mouth to mouth to the young.
The evergreen mistletoe was endowed by the druids with magical powers and was considered a sacred plant. With the help of mistletoe, they predicted tomorrow, decided someone's fate by drawing lots, and cured diseases.
Moreover, not every mistletoe was good for soothsayers. A whole ceremony was arranged for the selection and procurement of the required plant. And not every day was suitable for such a ceremony, but only the sixth day of the moon.
Branch of kisses
The vitality of folk traditions and the power of oral creativity helped the mistletoe not to sink into eternity. The tradition of the ancient Celts to celebrate the winter solstice with mistletoe branches smoothly passed into the tradition of Anglo-Saxon culture to celebrate the Nativity of Christ, decorating the home with the same evergreen attributes. After all, the Nativity of Christ is also associated with the day of the winter solstice.
Before the advent of Christmas trees in homes, any girl had a chance to get the kiss of a loved one without any censure from public morality. To do this, one had to "accidentally" be under a branch of evergreen mistletoe hanging from the ceiling on the Christmas holiday. Any person was allowed to kiss such a girl. It only remained to adjust so that this "anyone" was a loved one. Thanks to this tradition, the mistletoe branch is also called the "kissing branch".
Comfort on a tree
It was no coincidence that the Druids revered the mistletoe plant. Being a warlike and staunch people, they chose a plant to match themselves. Mistletoe surprises with its endurance and adaptability.
Evergreen mistletoe climbs trees and comfortably nestles on its branches, growing in a dense bush and feeding on the tree sap. Birches and willows, maples and poplars, pseudoacacia and pines are suitable for her place of residence. She also does not bypass fruit trees.
Description
The mistletoe seed, hitting a tree branch, "drills" its wood with a rod-like process, sticks to the wood and begins to feed on water and mineral substances of the tree. Growing up, mistletoe forms secondary suckers, firmly adhering to the tree branch.
The branches of the mistletoe itself grow from 15 to 80 centimeters long, forming a spherical bush that resembles a bird's nest. Whorled or opposite leaves convert carbon dioxide into organic matter (photosynthesis).
Greenish-yellow small flowers are not immediately noticeable. The fruit is a sticky flesh false berry containing several seeds (there can be only one seed). The color of the berries is brighter than that of the flowers, and can be yellow, white, red or orange. The stickiness of the berry pulp is used for the production of bird glue from berries. Also, the stickiness promotes the spread of the plant. The seeds stick to the bird's beaks and are carried by the birds to other trees.
Mistletoe magic
Among different peoples, sometimes directly opposite signs and superstitions are associated with mistletoe.
Among the Scandinavian peoples, she symbolized peace. In the house, on the door of which there was a wreath of mistletoe branches, any wanderer could always find shelter. If sworn enemies met under the tree, on the branches of which mistletoe had taken root, their duel was postponed until other times.
At the same time, German-Scandinavian myths ascribe to the mistletoe branch the role of the murder weapon of the god of spring Baldr by the cunning, cunning and insidious god Loki.
The mistletoe branches in the dwelling protected him from lightning and thunder, from evil spirits and all evil spirits, from the spell of magic and the deceit of witchcraft.
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