The Legend of the Mistletoe

Hi

A very Happy Christmas to all and may you have a Peaceful and Prosperous new year from all at Pristine Home.

I hope all the cleaning is nearly done at this stage,  but remember that we are open between Christmas and New Year if needs be and open from Jan 2nd 2013.

Bear with me while I tell you this little story. Did you ever wonder where the legend and tradition of mistletoe came from. Well it dates from times before Christianity. Yes those Celtic Druids and their Gods are responsible

What the Old Gods did with Mistletoe

The story goes that Mistletoe was the sacred plant of Frigga, the goddess of love and the mother of Balder, the god of the summer sun. Balder had a dream of death which greatly alarmed his mother, for should he die, all life on earth would end. Frigga sought the help of  air, fire, water, earth, and every animal and plant and secured a promise that no harm would come to her son. Balder now could not be hurt by anything on, or under the earth. 

But Balder still had one enemy, Loki, god of evil. He knew of one plant that was neither on the earth nor under the earth, but on apple and oak trees. It was the lowly mistletoe. So Loki made an arrow tip of the mistletoe, gave to the blind god of winter, Hoder, who shot it, striking Balder dead. The sky darkened and all things in earth and heaven wept for the sun god. For three days each element tried to bring Balder back to life. He was finally restored by Frigga, the goddess and his mother. 

It is said that the tears she shed for her son turned into the pearly white berries on the mistletoe plant and in her joy Frigga kissed everyone who passed beneath the tree on which it grew. The story ends with a decree that who should ever stand under the humble mistletoe, no harm should befall them, only a kiss, a token of love.

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 the Druid and other pre-Christian traditions.

Todays Christmas Tradition

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. If the girl remained unkissed, she can expect not to marry the following year. In some places the Christmas mistletoe is burned on the twelfth night lest all the boys and girls who have kissed under it never marry. Whether we believe it or not, it always makes for fun at Christmas parties.

“Mistletoe," said Luna dreamily, pointing at a large clump of white berries placed almost over Harry's head. He jumped out from under it.
"Good thinking," said Luna seriously. "It's often infested with nargles.”

JK Rowling  -   Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Don’t forget, if the house work is getting too much or the mistletoe needs to be burned, then Pristine Home will be delighted to help you this festive season and to clean up after your party. Call our offices to arrange a free quotation.

Happy Christmas

Diana