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Mistletoe is an evergreen.
The traditions of displaying evergreens at Christmas came about as a way
to bring color and the green hope of spring into the home.
This plant however is a parasitic shrub. It grows on trees, living off the
host plant. They are not full parasites, since the plants are capable of
photosynthesis. But these mistletoe plants are parasitic in the
sense that they send a special kind of root system down into their hosts, the
trees upon which they grow, in order to extract nutrients from the trees.Mistletoe has long been regarded as an aphrodisiac and fertility herb. It may also possess abortifacient qualities, which would help explain its association with uninhibited sexuality.
The unusual botanical history of mistletoe goes a long way
towards explaining the awe in which it was held in the Norse myths. For in
spite of not being rooted in the soil, mistletoe remained green throughout the
winter, while the trees upon which it grew and upon which it fed did not (the European mistletoe
often grows on apple trees; more rarely on oaks). This little plant remaining
green while the host plant died fascinated the unscientific masses.
The
folklore, and the magical powers of this plant, spread through the centuries It
was thought placing a sprig 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.
Ancient Scandinavia and the Norse mythology is where the
tale of kissing und the mistletoe started. It was considered a plant of peace
in Scandinavian history. If enemies found themselves under mistletoe in the
forest they laid down their weapons and called a truce until the next day.
Most say kissing under the mistletoe is an English custom
even though there is a story that dates back to Norse mythology. It is about an
overprotective mother.
The
Norse god Balder was the best loved of all the gods. His mother was Frigga,
goddess of love and beauty. She loved her son so much that she wanted to make
sure no harm would come to him. So she went through the world, securing
promises from everything that sprang from the four elements--fire, water, air,
and earth--that they would not harm her beloved Balder.
Leave it to Loki, a sly, evil
spirit, to find the loophole. The loophole was mistletoe. He made an arrow from
its wood. To make the prank even nastier, he took the arrow to Hoder, Balder's
brother, who was blind. Guiding Holder's hand, Loki directed the arrow at
Balder's heart, and he fell dead.
Frigga's tears became the
mistletoe's white berries. In the version of the story with a happy ending,
Balder is restored to life, and Frigga is so grateful that she reverses the
reputation of the offending plant--making it a symbol of love and promising to
bestow a kiss upon anyone who passes under it.
Is hanging mistletoe a
tradition in your family?
My newest Christmas release-
A Husband for Christmas
Final Novella in the Halsey Homecoming and Halsey
Brothers Series
Shayla Halsey wanted to be home for
Christmas, but never imagined her travels would include spending the night in a
brooding stranger’s cabin. Snowballing events cause her to look inside herself
and recognize maybe it wasn’t being home she wanted as much as it was to have a
home.
Mace Walker has his life in order
and doesn’t want it disrupted again. Yet, when he discovers a woman stranded in
the snow, he has to help her—despite her overbearing and reckless fiancé. In a
matter of days, Shayla turns his life upside down and forces him to decide if
he should leave town or face the consequences.
Buy Links: Kindle Apple Nook Kobo Windtree Press
About Paty Jager:
Award-winning author Paty Jager and her husband raise alfalfa
hay in rural eastern Oregon. On her road to publication she wrote freelance
articles for two local newspapers and enjoyed her job with the County Extension
service as a 4-H Program Assistant. Raising hay and cattle, riding horses, and
battling rattlesnakes, she not only writes the western lifestyle, she lives it.
All Paty’s work has Western or
Native American elements in them along with hints of humor and engaging
characters. Her penchant for research takes her on side trips that eventually
turn into yet another story. She recently returned to the genre of her heart-
Mystery.
You can learn more about Paty at
her blog; Writing into the Sunset
her website; http://www.patyjager.net
Newsletter: Paty’s Prattle: http://eepurl.com/1CFgX
twitter @patyjag.
4 comments:
I love learning the history behind traditions! Your post was really interesting, Paty!
I love your new book's cover and can't wait to read it!
HI Sarah,
Thanks! Traditions are so interesting. I hope you enjoy A Husband for Christmas.
Making a mistletoe ball out of embroidery hoops wrapped with red ribbon was a long time family tradition. I don't do that and I don't always hang the mistletoe but if I can find the "real stuff", I still get it and have it around my computer. Last years is on a shelf to the left of my computer. Guess it's time to go looking for a fresh sprig!
Judith, That sounds like a wonderful tradition. Growing up I only vaguely knew about mistletoe at Christmas. As an adult several times I hung it in my home. Having it by your computer would be a great incentive while writing romance stories. ;)
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