What is the symbolic meaning of the mistletoe?

What is the symbolic meaning of the mistletoe?

Mistletoe is one of the four plants traditionally adopted by Christians in order to celebrate Christmas. Mistletoe berries. Its evergreen leaves indeed symbolize ‘life that does not die’. This parasitic plant grows mostly on apple trees.

What is the tradition of mistletoe at Christmas?

The mistletoe tradition holds that a man is allowed to kiss any woman standing beneath a sprig or bouquet of Mistletoe, and vice versa. If a kiss is refused, bad luck befalls the person who said “No.”

Why is mistletoe a symbol of peace?

History also suggests that mistletoe was a symbol of peace. In Scandinavia, mistletoe was considered a plant of peace. When standing underneath the mistletoe, enemies could declare a truce and spouses could end any marital turmoil with a kiss.

Is a mistletoe religious?

But did you know that mistletoe, now considered a holiday plant, was used as a religious symbol in pagan rites centuries before the time of Christ? To the ancient Druids of Britain it was a sacred symbol with both magical powers and medicinal properties.

What happens when you stand under a mistletoe?

According to custom, if you’re caught standing under the mistletoe, you may get a kiss. Overjoyed, Frigg blessed the mistletoe plant and promised a kiss to all who passed beneath it.

What is holly mistletoe?

Holly is a shrub or tree with dark green color spiny leaves. In contrast, mistletoe is a parasitic plant grown in the crowns of oaks, apple trees, and other trees. It contains olive-green color leaves and produces white color berries. Both holly and mistletoe are native to Europe and America.

Why did the church ban mistletoe?

The early Christian church banned the use of mistletoe because of its association with Druids. According to Scandinavian legend, the god Balder the Beautiful was killed by a spear of mistletoe and his grieving mother Frigg, the goddess of love and beauty, banished the plant to the top of trees.

What is the importance of mistletoe?

Health benefits that have been attributed to mistletoe include improving cardiovascular health, relieving stress and anxiety, and boosting the immune system to help fight off colds and respiratory problems. It is also a popular complementary therapy for cancer treatment in many parts of the world.

What is the meaning of the mistletoe tradition?

The Meaning Behind Mistletoe Traditions Mistletoe has been associated with fertility and life since the times of the ancient Celts. Ancient ceremonies used Mistletoe to provide fertility and aphrodisiac effects, and it was also regarded as the soul of the oak trees it grew from. Later in the middle ages it was hung to ward off evil spirits.

What does it mean to kiss a mistletoe?

Kiss and make peace. In the ancient Celtic culture, mistletoe is a symbol of peace. When mistletoe was seen in an oak tree, it was considered a blessing. Mistletoe was used in fertility and marriage rituals too. This association with love and harmony lingers to this day with getting a kiss under the mistletoe.

What does the mistletoe mean to the Druids?

When mistletoe would grow on these trees it would add further meaning. Mistletoe is found in the winter when the leaves all or mostly gone—this symbolized life in the midst of death to the Celtic druids. While the whole of the tree seemed to be dead or hibernating, the mistletoe plant still showed signs of life.

What kind of disease is caused by mistletoe?

What is mistletoe? Mistletoe is a plant that grows parasitically on trees. Mistletoe can cause Witches’-broom, a symptom of a disease that results in clusters of weak shoots, in the host tree. One way to harvest mistletoe is to climb high in the tree to get the clusters; another way is to blast them out with a shotgun.